Commander Valentina takes the Civvie up with a new radiation sensor instrument to test how it functions while in flight
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Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
HAB has swapped out the Engineering Test Bay for our new Radiation Sensor Package. Val will take it up in the Civvie tmrw for test readings
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
reports from Kravass tell us weather will be closing in from the west later today, will get Civvie in the air at 2nd dawn for quick flight
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Cdr Val is being briefed, Wx still looks good w/ scattered clouds >5km & winds WNW @ 4-6kts. Will just hop out to the Highlands and back
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Civvie has engine start & taxi clearance, though once in position Val will hold for takeoff until sun rises higher, then depart from Rwy27
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Val is aloft & turning more direct into the wind for better climb performance. ETA to Highlands area northwest of KSC is just 8 mins (~25km)
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
we have some radiation data transmitted successfully & Val is already swinging back around for home, will continue to pick up rad readings
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
Val was high for pattern entry to Rwy27 but rather than a longer crosswind entry Flight approved a spiral descent for downwind leg entry
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
that was a bit hairy - Val let herself get so low over the water on base leg she lost sight of the runway. Higher now, lining up for final
Kerbal Space Agency
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as much as she tried to emulate Jeb's soft landing, a stall just a few meters over the runway dropped her down hard, but gear is okay
Kerbal Space Agency
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Civvie is parked & Val is getting ready to head to debrief. Bill put great confidence in her approach to get this shot as she flew over him
Kerbal Space Agency
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TDU analysis shows us that maneuver we mentioned earlier as Val descended from 1.7km to 1km in order to enter the pattern for landing
Kerbal Space Agency
@KSA_MissionCtrl
also here's a shot pulled from one of the outboard cameras as Val took off with the hazy dawn light scattered off into the distance
