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Tag Archive: Progeny Mk1-B
Jan 04 2019
Operations Summary – Week of 1/2/19
Jan 03 2019
Progeny Mk1-B Airlaunch Flight Analysis
A little over a year and a half after the idea was first put forward by Captain Jebediah and after months of preparation, at the end of last month we finally were able to launch a rocket off an aircraft while in flight. It was a great accomplishment and the main goal was achieved: to prove that such an operation can be carried out without excessive danger to the crew of the aircraft (in this case Flight Officers Tedman and Aldeny) or the rocket itself in being able to complete its own mission. We’ll review the process leading up to the launch before covering the launch flight itself.
Launch Preparation
Once it was confirmed that the rocket could be properly placed atop the aircraft, the first mission began with the simple goal of making sure the Deuce could takeoff and fly normally with the extra weight on the tail and its aerodynamic effects. Both concerns turned out to be minimal, at best – the piggyback was giving the aircraft no trouble whatsoever and it was able to reach an altitude of 7km ASL before climbing became too difficult to continue. That determined the release altitude, and Flight had no problems with going for a release of the rocket on this first test mission given how well-behaved the aircraft was. The release went exactly as planned – the decoupler placed forward of the rocket’s center of mass kicked it back and upright from a flight level position before it fell behind the aircraft, nowhere near striking the tail, which was another concern.
Dec 21 2018
Progeny Mk1-B Airlaunch
Flight Officers Tedman & Aldeny cap off months of planning and preparation with a first attempt at launching a rocket off the back of their aircraft. Click here for the Ops Tracker rocket page
Dec 19 2018
Progeny Mk1-B Captive Carry & Launch Rehearsal
Flight Officers Tedman & Aldeny make another attempt at a full launch dress rehearsal for the carried Progeny Mk1-B rocket that was interrupted months ago by the Monolith
Aug 10 2018
KSA Operations Suspended Due to Monolith Interference
Earlier this week on Tuesday just after 13:53 local time the Monolith woke up. Everyone at KSC immediately knew this as a massive electromagnetic (EM) pulse surged through all active electronics on campus and the nearby Support Village and shorted them out – in some cases with a shower of sparks and electrical arcs. Minor fires were started in some areas and brought under control as personnel began to evacuate over the causeway bridge to prepare to head for Umbarg. This evacuation plan was set in place after the first time the Monolith sent out such a discharge. Several injuries were reported from burns but no deaths occurred.
Aug 09 2018
Progeny Mk1-B Captive Carry & Release Test 5
Aug 02 2018
Progeny Mk1-B Captive Carry & Release Test 4
Jul 30 2018