Surviving the initial ascent, the second Mk4 unfortunately fell victim to either heat or stress or both as it accelerated at full thrust through the upper atmosphere.
Jun 01 2017
Progeny Mk4 Flight 2
May 25 2017
Civvie KerBalloon Drop 4
Commander Valentina gets her first chance to drop a fully-equipped KerBalloon payload in a mission 114km north to Area C8FN9 to gather high-altitude pressure data for Albert Kerman Industries
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May 24 2017
Civvie #3 Delivery
May 23 2017
Progeny Mk4 LF/O Static Fire
May 18 2017
Progeny Mk4 Flight 1
May 17 2017
High-Altitude Science Survey 11
Still aboard the MSV Tongjess, Specialist Bob has swapped control units with a balloon he brought with him to perform a second mission at sea over Hendon’s Drift for Silisko Industries
May 17 2017
High-Altitude Science Survey 10
Specialist Bill leads out a team of UTVs on a short 44km overland mission to launch a high-altitude balloon for a science survey at Site W-82 for Integrated Integrals
May 16 2017
Civvie KerBalloon Drop 3
Captain Jebediah heads further north to deliver yet another KerBalloon payload over an area of scientific interest for it to gather temperature data as it ascends
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KSA Main Image Gallery
Updates from Mission Control
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we’ve also placed another order for K2-X engines. This latest Ascension Mk3 mission has shown we want to move faster than planned to the Mk4 so the thrust vector control version of the WildCat-V will begin development immediately and we will order more when that is ready
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
@KSA_MissionCtrl
a final round of static fires last week has completed the WildCat-V’s second qualification run & we’ll know for sure by next month if it is finally ready for production. If so, two will be ready by Q3 2021 for Extremis I and a Min/Minmus mission
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the Viklun upper stage will be systematically dismantled to help determine the cause of the flexing and what effect it had on the overall structural integrity of the rocket. The damage from splashdown will reduce these findings but hopefully the effort will still prove valuable
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
@KSA_MissionCtrl
onboard vid shows the pitch oscillations during the Ascension Mk3’s ascent were way worse than we imagined – the *entire rocket flexed* 😱 inherent structural issue? Could also be from the air pressure at the nose (think boat bow slamming up & down on hvy seas) from shallow angle
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
@KSA_MissionCtrl
when the Viklun stage splashed down the empty fuel tanks blew out, helping to alleviate impact pressure on the payload but fragments pierced the flight computer & damaged the flash memory. Onboard tlm data was lost but the ops log final mins were able to be pieced back together
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
@KSA_MissionCtrl
one of the things that led to the win was research done by KSA scientists to prove that asteroids contain mineral wealth which could greatly alleviate the need for surface mining. We are committed to working on a system of space resource gathering for deployment later this decade
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
@KSA_MissionCtrl
here we can say we are actually working closely with Monolithic followers to protect Kerbin’s pristine environment that developed after the asteroid strike. A major victory was won today in court with a 5-year moratorium established against surface mining
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the KSA has been involved for the past two years, led by a legal team put together by Lead Scientist Cheranne, in helping environmentalists to fight against companies looking to incorporate with the purpose of mining the surface of Kerbin to extract raw materials
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
@KSA_MissionCtrl
some Ascension Mk2 bit.ly/KSARecords have now been claimed by the Mk3:
(previous record)
Heaviest Rocket Launched, Minus Payload: 19.862t (17.5t)
Heaviest Payload Launched, Orbital Trajectory: 1.662t (767kg)
Tallest Rocket Launched: 16.782m (16.212m)
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
@KSA_MissionCtrl
at this time we do not know the nature of the threat or the time frame, but given that we have suffered an attack in the past (kerbalspace.agency/?p=9965) we have no choice but to take this seriously & deal with the relatively minor inconvenience compared to a potential loss of life
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
@KSA_MissionCtrl
there is also now apparently a threat against KSC and we have complied with orders from the government security forces earlier today that the entire facility be evacuated. We will continue to operate at limited capacity from our HQ in Umbarg until the threat has passed
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the original plan to develop a 1.25m TVC vacuum engine was put on hold to instead work on the 1m vac engine suitable for payloads and also because our experience with the Progeny Mk7 made us want to get more TVC engineering data from the Mk8 for a fully TVC Ascension Mk4 by 2022
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
@KSA_MissionCtrl
in putting together the Ascension Mk3 mission report timeline (kerbalspace.agency/?p=11619), since it is the first, we go all the way back thru the rocket’s development as well. That reminded us of this tweet outlining the Mk3’s design goals. What happened to the TVC vacuum engine?
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
@KSA_MissionCtrl
the Viklun stage & Kerbin III have been transported via rail back to KSC after arriving in port at Umbarg on Sunday. We still have to confirm that Kerbin III remains fit for flight but visual inspection looks good. Entire Viklun stage will need to be rebuilt but that was expected
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we are working on a full launch video but here is a look at initial ascent and booster drop from the ground tracking cam atop the Tracking Station & cam atop the crew tower. Bonus to upper-stage recovery is that we will get high FPS video from the booster camera for once!
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
@KSA_MissionCtrl
our crew did not miss the launch and are excited to one day ride this rocket up into orbit. Several years ago they didn’t know for sure if they’d even get to take a ride up into space yet! The final frontier is broadening bit by bit…
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
@KSA_MissionCtrl
post-launch operations wrapping up with the final booster heading back to the VAB where it will be inspected with the others before being shipped back to Periapsis Co. in Umbarg for refurbishment. Rocket should be back at KSC by Tuesday
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