Ascension Program

Overview
Ascension Mk1
Ascension Mk2
Ascension Mk3

Program Patch

Although we are still exploring the basics of rocketry through sub-orbital flights of our Progenitor rockets, the time has come to begin to push for the next level and establish a permanent robotic presence in space with orbiting satellites. At first, these craft will not be able to stay up for long with current power technology but eventually the Ascension program will be responsible for lifting all payloads into orbit around Kerbin for extended missions of months or years. This program will also be responsible for getting the Extremis probes on their way to exploring the Kerbol system.

For an alternate overview of the program you can check out this wiki-style article.

Recent Program News

Operations Summary – Weeks of 2/1 & 2/8/21
February 12, 2021
Ascension Mk3 Faces Increased Delays on Kerbin III Mission
Future Launch Updates
Kerbin II Mission Analysis
January 22, 2021
Operations Summary – Weeks of 1/4 & 1/11/21
January 15, 2021
Q1 Launch Schedule Booked
Engine & Capsule Testing
Operations Summary – Weeks of 12/7 & 12/14/20
December 18, 2020
Kerbin II Concludes Mission
Programs Prepare for 2021
Operations Summary – Weeks of 11/23 & 11/30/20
December 4, 2020
Kerbin II Mission Extension Cancelled

Show All News

Primary Program Goals

Orbit Kerbin

Carry a mission to another body

Eject a probe out of the Kerbin system

Carry a kerbal into space

Place a kerbal in orbit

Show Secondary Goals

Orbit Kerbin < 250km, Ecc < 0.1

Orbit Kerbin > 250km, Ecc < 0.1

Establish an equatorial orbit < 15°

Establish an inclined orbit 15-85°

Establish a polar orbit > 85°

Establish a keostationary orbit

Active Program Contracts

None at this time

Program Album

View full album on flickr

1.25m Engine Test Stand

NovaPunch K2-X

Closing Up

Ascension Mk1 Rollout

Until Next Time

Ascension & Progeny Integration

Red Dawn

Hung Low

Stacked Tall

Standing Ready

Ascension Mk1 Block I No.2

150km Going Up

Apokee

Two for Space

Rocket Forest

R&D and Science Labs

K2-X Static Testing Prep

K2-X Hot Fire Test No.1

Engine Test Chart

Fill 'er up!

Ascension Mk1 Block I No.1

Ascension Mk1 Block I

Ascension Mk1 Block II

Prototypes Await

KX-2 Hot Fire Test 50%

Ascension Service Towers

Two Pioneers

Erected

Airship Retrofit

Going Vertical

Drop Testing

Gentle Return

Carried Aloft

Top Heavy

Ready to Roll

Launch Dawn

80km Going Up

250km Going Up

200km Coming Down

25km

Mk1 Ascension Crew Capsule

Full Service Launch Pad

2018 Year in Review: Rocket Flight

Capsule Afloat

Ready to Escape Its Shadow

Crack o Dawn

Ascension Mk1 Block I No.3

Separation Confirmed

Launch Weather

Ascension Flight Data Comparison

Program Videos

Program Duration: Nov 2017 – Ongoing

Total Expenditure:

510,025

Total Income (Net):

240,189 (-269,836)

Yearly income (Net): 65,000 (-10,167)

Active Vessels: Ascension Mk1, Mk3

Number of Missions: 19

Program Success Rate: 78%

Agency Partners: Umbra Space Industries, KW Rocketry, NovaPunch, Modular Rocket Systems, Bluedog Design Bureau, C7 Aerospace Division, Coatl Aerospace, Periapsis Co.

Full Program Timeline

Kerbal Space Agency @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

Thu Feb 18 11:57 EST 2021

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Kerbal Space Agency @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

Thu Feb 18 11:56 EST 2021

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Kerbal Space Agency @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

Thu Feb 18 09:37 EST 2021

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Kerbal Space Agency @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

Thu Feb 18 09:36 EST 2021

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Kerbal Space Agency @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

Wed Feb 17 16:23 EST 2021

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Vessel Patch

The Mk1 was the first dedicated lifter design for orbital space flight, meant to carry several tons of extra mass off the ground in order for the second stage or payload to continue the climb into orbit from a high initial altitude. It was also the first steerable rocket and the first to be built to a 1.25m form factor.

However after two attempts to make orbit with even a light 1t payload it was determined to be not powerful enough and is now relegated to sub-orbital missions only and no longer carries a Block designation.

Recent Vessel News

Operations Summary – Weeks of 2/1 & 2/8/21
February 12, 2021
Future Launch Updates
Operations Summary – Weeks of 1/4 & 1/11/21
January 15, 2021
Q1 Launch Schedule Booked
Engine & Capsule Testing
Operations Summary – Weeks of 8/31 & 9/7/20
September 11, 2020
Mk1 Flight 14 Analysis
Ascension Mk1 Flight 14 Analysis
September 9, 2020
Operations Summary – Weeks of 8/3 & 8/10/20
August 14, 2020
Recent Missions Reviewed

Show All News

Current Missions

Mk1-B Capsule Test – 3/17 @ 18:40 UTC

The new capsule will undergo a sub-orbital test flight to confirm its basic systems and re-entry capability before being cleared for an orbital test flight later this year on a Mk3

Flight Tracker

Past Missions

Show Past Missions (2020)

Specialist Bob – 7/16/20

After waiting almost a year since his first attempt, Specialist Bob is finally able to head up into space to chase after the shadow of Mun during an eclipse. However mission troubles still do not escape him…

Flight Tracker

Radiation Field Study 11 – 6/23/20

Similar to a past mission, the unkerbed capsule will carry science instruments into space this time up into the inner radiation belt while also testing new shielding that could help protect crew on future flights

Flight Tracker

Captain Jebediah – 3/20/20

Foiled during his first attempt, Captain Jebediah faced additional hurdles before he was able to finally make his trip up into space, becoming the 3rd kerbal to venture beyond the atmosphere and gaze down upon our planet

Flight Tracker

Steerable Guidance Fins & PLF Test – 1/22/20

After three months to repair the launch pad the first Ascension Mk1 mission of 2020 aims to prove whether or not new guidance fins can get the Ascension Mk2 onto an ascent path that could place it into low-Kerbin orbit

Flight Tracker

Show Past Missions (2019)

Captain Jebediah – 10/22/19

Captain Jeb is more than ready to finally take his ride up to space to fly a similar mission to the previous flight by Commander Val however we discover that we have enemies bent on destroying all we hope to accomplish…

Flight Tracker

Commander Valentina – 9/17/19

Commander Val rotates into the hot seat aboard the capsule and becomes the 2nd kerbal to venture up into space, where she flies higher and stays longer to increase our knowledge of any effects 0G has on kerbal physiology

Flight Tracker

Science Studies – 8/28/19

With a capsule modified solely for unkerbed flight, new science instruments were installed. The mission’s goals also included continuing to push the capsule to the limits on return to attempt to find any failures

Flight Tracker

Specialist Bill – 7/24/19

Although only one of them can ultimately be the first kerbal into space, both Specialists Bill & Bob are prepared to fly aboard the capsule atop the rocket that will carry one of them into the history books

Flight Tracker

Capsule Test Flight 2 – 5/28/19

Another unkerbed test flight (possibly the last one) of the Mk1 capsule to try and fly a better ascent with an easier re-entry while also properly retaining the LES tower for some testing before chute deploy

Flight Tracker

Ascent Abort Test – 5/16/19

No longer fit for space flight, the test capsule that had been used for previous pad abort tests was still fit enough to fly partway to space so we could conduct an ascent abort test to fully qualify the Launch Escape System

Flight Tracker

Capsule Test Flight 1 – 4/18/19

Changes to the elevator fin angle will allow for greater pitch-down control authority and the first test of the Mk1 space capsule on a sub-orbital flight will take place in a similar manner to the test payload from the previous mission

Flight Tracker

Capsule Test Mass – 1/24/19

Attempting to use new software to plan an orbital mission profile proved fruitless, so this mission was redesigned from scratch to support future sub-orbital kerbed spaceflight by testing new technologies such as RCS & a heat shield

Flight Tracker

Show Past Missions (2018)

Orbit Attempt 2 – 7/17/18

After failing to reach orbit on our first attempt, adjustments have been made to the ascent profile to get the rocket horizontal sooner and hopefully push our periapsis out from under the ground on this second attempt

Flight Tracker

Orbit Attempt 1 – 6/8/18

Our first orbit-capable rocket makes its debut flight after months of testing and development and a few false starts leading up to launch. The hopes of this flight lie upon an engine that has seen a lot of use already in testing…

Flight Tracker

Vessel Images

View all images on flickr

NovaPunch K2-X

Closing Up

Ascension Mk1 Rollout

Ascension & Progeny Integration

Red Dawn

Hung Low

Stacked Tall

Standing Ready

Ascension Mk1 Block I No.2

150km Going Up

Apokee

Two for Space

Rocket Forest

Ascent Profile Comparison

Standing Ready

LES Pad Abort Test

Ascension Launch Prep

K2-X Static Testing Prep

K2-X Hot Fire Test No.1

Fill 'er up!

Ascension Mk1 Block I No.1

Slow Your Roll

Fill Up Time

Ascension Mk1 Block I No. 4

Prior to MECO

Ascension Mk1 Block I

Ascension Mk1 Block II

KX-2 Hot Fire Test 50%

Two Pioneers

Erected

Going Vertical

Ready to Roll

Launch Dawn

80km Going Up

250km Going Up

200km Coming Down

25km

2018 Year in Review: Rocket Flight

Capsule Afloat

Ready to Escape Its Shadow

Crack o Dawn

Ascension Mk1 Block I No.3

Separation Confirmed

Launch Weather

Ascension Flight Data Comparison

Empty Pad Awaits

LES Pad Abort Test

Viklun Mk1 Blueprint

Ascension Mk1 No. 5

Topped Off

Vessel Videos

Vessel Lifetime: Jun 2018 – Ongoing

Total Expenditure:

222,957

Total Income (Net):

32,361 (-190,596)

Yearly Income (Net):

0 (0)

Number of Missions: 14

Mission Success Rate: 79%

Vessel Blueprint

Full Vessel Timeline

Kerbal Space Agency @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

Tue Feb 16 17:58 EST 2021

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Kerbal Space Agency @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

Tue Feb 16 17:57 EST 2021

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Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl

if you missed anything important these past two weeks that is not Ascension Mk3 related you can find more info on these events in our Ops Summary, including Ascension Mk3 info. If weather cooperates, prelaunch will kick off tomorrow @ 13:38 UTC! kerbalspace.agency/?p=11606

Fri Feb 12 19:36 EST 2021

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Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl

CFO Mortimer has finally been able to post our first financial report for 2021 covering the month of January. Commercial success this year hinges on the Ascension Mk3 & Progeny Mk8 being able to accept contracts, from which we can extract profit: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…

Tue Feb 09 16:48 EST 2021

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Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl

a full investigation into the destruction of CFO Mortimer's computer has shown it was indeed bad electrical wiring and it looks like the problems that have been affecting the Admin Bldg for a while now will require some serious overhaul, tho no effect to ongoing operations

Mon Feb 08 18:28 EST 2021

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Vessel Patch

The Mk2 was originally the Mk1 Block II meant to serve as a heavy lift variant. However when it was made clear how underpowered the Mk1 was and that it would not be able to carry a second stage, the Block II was merged with the Viklun Mk1 to create a new vehicle as the two would only ever be paired together anyways.

The Mk2 will be the first rocket to carry kerbals into orbit.

Recent Vessel News

Kerbin II Mission Analysis
January 22, 2021
Operations Summary – Weeks of 12/7 & 12/14/20
December 18, 2020
Kerbin II Concludes Mission
Operations Summary – Weeks of 11/23 & 11/30/20
December 4, 2020
Kerbin II Mission Extension Cancelled
Operations Summary – Weeks of 10/26 & 11/2/20
November 6, 2020
Kerbin II Science Mission Forges Ahead, then Interrupted
Operations Summary – Weeks of 10/12 & 10/19/20
October 23, 2020
Final Flight Analysis Released

Show All News

Past Missions

Show Past Missions (2020)

Orbit Attempt 4 – 9/23/20

Continued iteration leads us to attempting another orbital insertion with the Mk2, hoping to take the payload the full distance this time rather than leaving Kerbin II to fend for itself. Will the upgraded Viklun stage be able to handle it?

Flight Tracker

Orbit Attempt 3 – 2/20/20

Our largest rocket to date finally gets its chance to help us prove that we are capable of achieving orbital space flight. We’ve spent the last year working up towards this mission but are we really ready? Only one way to find out…

Flight Tracker

Past Payloads

Show Past Payloads (2020)

Kerbin II – 9/23-12/17

Our second attempt at orbit went more as planned, with the satellite taking long-term science observations, proving orbits are stable above the atmosphere and teaching us new lessons on orbital recovery

Flight Tracker

Kerbin I – 2/20-2/24

The first probe to orbit Kerbin, this served as a valuable test bed for operations, control, power, etc and even the mission itself, not going as planned, provided invaluable experience to our new orbital operations crew

Flight Tracker

Vessel Images

View all images on flickr

Reconfigured Launch Pad

Viklun Static Fire

Viklun Rollout

Mobile Launch Platform Main Deck

Engine Test Stands

Mobile Launch Platform Progress

MLP Build Progress

Kerbin I

MLP Build Progress

Busy VAB

MLP & Dhumla Progress

Mk2 to Mk1

K2-X Static Fire

Stack It Up

Ascension Mk2 Build Progress

Viklun Orbital Stage Integration

Preparing for Stacking

Standing Ready

On the Roll!

Ascension Mk2 No.1

Presider Motorcade

Hooked Up

Under the Lights

SRB Trail

Toasty Ascent

Kerbin I Mission Trajectory

Ascension Mk2 Static Display - Night

Ascension Mk2 Static Display - Day

K2-X Delivery

Kerbin II

Kerbin II Processing

Ascension Mk2 Kerbin II

Hooked Up & Almost Ready

The Pad Awaits

Relocate Before Launch

Ascension Mk2 No.2

Ascension Mk2 Alight

Rockets & Planets

Clearer Sunrise

Peeking into Shadow

Thin Blue Layer

Perfect Launch Weather - If Only...

Estimated Decay of Viklun Stage

Vessel Videos

Vessel Lifetime: Apr 2019 – Dec 2020

Total Expenditure:

97,992

Total Income (Net):

86,167 (-11,825)

Number of Missions: 4

Mission Success Rate: 75%

Lift Stage Blueprint

Orbital Stage Blueprint

Full Vessel Timeline

Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl

full financial report for 2020 is now available as its own sheet, the regular link will continue to carry monthly updates through this year. We hope to continue to see growth in 2021 as more and more commercial space contracts become available docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…

Tue Jan 05 13:55 EST 2021

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Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl

and a look at the various trajectories the vessels took. With the loss of power & loss of position data the Kerbin I Viklun stage decay is a best-guess. Also the Kerbin II Viklun stage was de-orbited in a similar manner to that depicted for Kerbin II, both shared the same orbit

Fri Jan 01 11:07 EST 2021

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Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl

the year may be done but the week is not and we still have one more aspect of our 2020 operations to review - orbital! For the first time we get to look at some stats from missions that circled the planet multiple times, something we plan to do a lot more often in 2021 💫

Fri Jan 01 11:06 EST 2021

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Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl

even though overall launch count was down from last year, the missions were much more complex, including our first ever orbital missions launched from the Ascension Mk2 and getting the rest of our crew up into space via the Mk1. Lots of failures means we learned a lot as well

Thu Dec 31 15:33 EST 2020

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Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl

financial report for December has been posted by CFO Mortimer, who will also be working this week on our year-end report to publish at the start of next month. It and our past months/yrs of finances are always publicly available here bit.ly/KSA_Finances

Mon Dec 28 16:47 EST 2020

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Vessel Patch

The Mk3 changes little from the overall design of the orbit-proven Mk2 except to give it more capability to lift heavier payloads thanks to larger solid rocket motors and a more powerful lifter engine. Expanded cold gas reserves and a slightly longer Viklun second stage means more torque and fuel for the reaction control system to ensure the rocket can remain stable as it climbs out of the atmosphere and re-orient for longer flight duration. The SRBs are equipped with nose cone parachutes so they can be recovered and reflown. The Mk3 has the capability to send probes to other bodies, including those outside the Kerbin system.

Recent Vessel News

Operations Summary – Weeks of 2/1 & 2/8/21
February 12, 2021
Increased Delays on Kerbin III Mission
Operations Summary – Weeks of 1/18 & 1/25/21
January 29, 2021
Ascension Mk3 Prepares for Debut
Operations Summary – Weeks of 12/7 & 12/14/20
December 18, 2020
Programs Prepare for 2021
Operations Summary – Weeks of 11/9 & 11/16/20
November 20, 2020
Rocket Design, Probe Tech Finalized
Progeny Mk7-B Flight 4 Analysis
November 19, 2020

Show All News

Current Missions

None at this time.

Past Missions

Show Past Missions (2021)

Flight 1 (Kerbin III Attempt 1) – 2/13/21

Once again pushing things to the limit the new Ascension Mk3 fails to achieve an optimal ascent, suffering a similar failure to the first Mk2 however this time the payload was at least able to be recovered via controlled abort

Flight Tracker