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Tag Archive: Dhumla
Aug 14 2020
Operations Summary – Weeks of 8/3 & 8/10/20
Jan 13 2020
2020 Program Goals
Over the entire last week, as is per usual for the start of the operational year, numerous meetings were conducted among the various programs here at KSC where all team members were allowed to pitch ideas and voice opinions about the coming year so admin staff could work on decisions for 2020 operational goals. Thankfully all arguments remained professional – no chairs were thrown or whiteboards defaced. Here is all that we hope to accomplish this year.
Ascension Program
Still the most exciting aspect of our operations, Ascension will seek to travel higher and further than ever before starting right this month with the latest Mk1 mission to test out new guidance fins (larger versions of those that flew first on the Progeny Mk7-A) as well as attempt another RTG impact test. More details on the mission will be posted later this week when we announce a launch date. The Mk1 will also fly at least two more times this year to send Captain Jeb and Specialist Bob into space on sub-orbital missions to continue to observe the effects of zero-G on kerbals, as well as tolerance to re-entry forces.
The first flight of the Mk2, as early as February, will be entirely dependent on the performance of this month’s Mk1 mission. If successful, the new fins should give the Mk2 the control authority required to pitch over fast enough to achieve orbit. From the first mission we will aim to deploy a satellite, Kerbin I, which was announced last year. It will allow us to conduct various tests before being de-orbited due to limited battery power. The Mk2 will continue to fly throughout the year to place more payloads into space and help certify the RTG for flight so that we can send up a trio of long-lasting communications satellites by the end of the year. If the Mk2 shows itself to be a reliable vehicle, sending a kerbal into orbit before the year is out is a serious possibility but not one we will rush towards.
In the latter half of this year we hope to also debut the Mk3, the full design spec of which you can review here. This was officially approved last week although the production dates have been pushed back. The Mk3 should be the rocket that lets us send payloads into orbit around Mun and Minmus, perhaps this year.
Finally, work is also being done on the Mk1-B capsule that will debut later this year, retaining single-occupancy but upgrading various systems & design.
Jul 17 2019
Dhumla Crash Report Summary
The Air Safety Administration has closed its investigation into the Dhumla crash that took the life of Flight Officer Aldeny and seriously injured Flight Officer Tedman. The full report weighs in at over 300 pages of technical investigation, witness reports, crew interviews and simulation data. The conclusion reached by all this is that pilot error was the only cause of the accident – this includes both the actions and mind-set of Pilot in Command Aldeny.
The aircraft was planned to make a touch-and-go landing at Kravass General Airport, putting wheels down but not slowing enough to come to a full stop and thus taking to the air again shortly afterwards. The approach went as planned with a reduced throttle to allow the aircraft to slow enough that the landing gear would not be damaged on touchdown. As the plane crossed over the threshold Aldeny cut the throttle and engaged the reverse thrusters before throttling back up to reduce speed and perform a full stop landing. Cockpit voice recordings made clear this was done without informing his co-pilot, who had too little time to react. The aircraft was already going too fast and failed to slow down enough before ramping off the end of the runway and crashing nose-first into the ground off the raised threshold.
May 09 2019