Set to land on the outskirts of the Great Desert if it survives its trip through the atmosphere, it will likely kick up a huge amount of dust that will blow into the seas to the east and feed a microbial megabloom. Somehow, life will always profit from disaster
Asterioids of April 2019 (5/1/19)
12 known passes is the second-lowest of the year and it looks like we may be heading into a quieter period
Backlit Departure (5/3/19)
Dusk falling into night as a Deuce takes off from runway 09 shortly after the sun has set behind the mountains
Snowy Vista (5/3/19)
It's quite other-worldy at the poles, seen here is the southern ice shelf surrounding the south polar ice cap with strong aurora dancing in the daylit sky. Mun and Minmus are also visible
After waiting several days for decent weather, the next day cycle should bring clearer skies and calmer winds to allow the Dhumla, seen on the right, to begin its flight trials at last
Dhumla Departure (2/5/19)
For the first time our newest aircraft, the Dhumla cargo plane, takes to the skies for flight trials
Final Approach (2/5/19)
Coming back down from its first flight trial, the Dhumla had some issues settling on the runway and the flight crew had to perform a go-around. The second time was the charm. It's a tricky landing that requires a very flat approach
Night Readiness (2/6/19)
A Progeny Mk6 Block I stands on the launch pad after completing mounting operations under the lights. The previous launch was a Block II, which requires a reinforced launch base. They used to be two separate bases but we now built the Block II base onto the Block I base and it's now used for both rockets
Still within our birth nebula, with several other neighboring stars closeby, astronomers have been slowly finding more and more Kupier Belt Objects, sometimes in very old data, that were likely captured when passing by neighboring star systems. The latest candidate to be discovered, LYC-046(C), has an orbital period of 5,175 years
Drop Testing (6/26/18)
One of the two capsule prototypes is being driven out to the Grasslands west of KSC to be lifted up to 16km by a balloon and released to fall back to the surface. The internal pressure system will be checked during the test and the nose cone parachute casing will deploy a triple-chute canopy to bring it safely down
Gentle Return (6/26/18)
With three chutes, spotting a capsule returning to the surface from a greater distance is easier for recovery crews but also serves to add redundancy - in the event of one failing the capsule will have a rough but still survivable landing. Here it is being tested coming back from only 16km after being carried up by a balloon
K-422 (6/27/18)
The largest fixed-wing aircraft yet designed, its main role is to carry large loads of cargo, which can be loaded via a rear ramp or side door. It carries two crew members and can be outfitted with jump seats for passengers if needed.
Dawn Departure (6/28/18)
Flight Officer Tedman flies his first mission for the KSA aboard a Civvie bound to the north to visit the central plains and gather atmospheric samples to allow scientists to monitor pollen levels
Heading for Home (6/28/18)
The VAB is seen off in the distance from 50km away, a clear landmark to help guide aircraft towards the Kerbal Space Center
Carried Aloft (6/29/18)
A low-altitude KerBalloon lifts one of our prototype capsules up to 16.5km before releasing it to fall back to the surface, deploying chutes and landing in the water, where it will also deploy a flotation collar. Pressure systems will be monitored and a test dummy will be on board
Top Heavy (6/29/18)
Both of our prototype capsules were tested landing in the water today and although the smaller one floated okay the taller one had trouble staying upright, even in light seas, and would require a larger flotation collar
In addition to the aerial survey camera underneath the Deuce, a new booster camera has been added atop the cockpit. Obviously the aircraft is not a rocket booster but it is serving as a testbed for the new camera that will be placed on the booster of Ascension Mk1 and future rockets. This camera will also serve to monitor the release and launch of rockets off the aircraft's back - something we have yet to determine is feasible
Aft Camera (5/21/18)
Look closely between the tail fins to see the threshold markers for the lesser-used and oft-forgotten turf runway 01/19, as seen from the rear of the booster camera. Obviously the aircraft is not a rocket booster but it is serving as a testbed for the new camera that will be placed on the booster of Ascension Mk1 and future rockets
Fore Camera (5/21/18)
The view from the front of the booster camera atop the Deuce, heading towards a mountainous area for aerial observations. Obviously the aircraft is not a rocket booster but it is serving as a testbed for the new camera that will be placed on the booster of Ascension Mk1 and future rockets
Stacked Eclipse Dual Shadow Transit (5/21/18)
The observatory atop Ockr caught this photo just before sunrise - Jool was barely visible with the naked eye. The was the final opportunity to catch Laythe being eclipsed by Tylo while both shadows transit across Jool. Vall is up above
How Does the Goo Feel? (5/22/18)
A low-altitude balloon is sent up from the KSC lawn behind the VAB to test out a new inline containment unit for the bacteria affectionately known as "mystery goo", as it tends to form large gooey colonies when left near radioactive sources. The containment unit allow the goo to be carried safely and exposed to different environments. A container such as this will one day ride a rocket up into space
Hitchhiker (5/24/18)
A radial mystery goo containment unit attached underneath a Deuce is monitored by the belly camera as Jeb and Val fly the aircraft as high as 6km ASL over various biomes surrounding the KSC to test out the new science instrument
Seen from a hilltop above Umbarg, the sun rises with Minmus moving across in front of it
UOH-418(E) Plot (3/25/18)
Will pose no risk to current surface operations
NZF-473(C) Plot (3/26/18)
Joining the crowd in system, now numbering 6 with 3 more entering in the next 24 hours. It will come no closer than 3.93 Munar Distance
Munar Relief (3/28/18)
Nearing the sun, most of Mun is hidden in shadow except for the high ridges of crater rims, including some on the far side that are lit by light reflecting off Kerbin
Rise and shine from your bed of clouds! Sunset lights the sky on fire as Mun clears the horizon, nearly at full phase. Of course, it can't be totally full because if it were we wouldn't be able to see it - as it's orbit is not inclined it spends its time facing the sun while in Kerbin's shadow
Cloud Shrouded Minmus (11/4/17)
Almost appearing as another wisp of cloud, crescent Minmus is seen at sunset
Heading North (11/6/17)
Commander Valentina banks a Civvie along the bay north of KSC after departing from Runway 27 and climbing above 800m ASL
JZL-411(C) Plot (11/6/17)
The closest strike yet to populated areas of Kerbin, but thankfully far enough removed from both cities that a ground strike poses no hazard to living caverns. The river access tunnel to Sheltered Rock could see some damage though
CTG-432(E) Plot (11/8/17)
We expect this to leave a nice dent on the surface & plan to visit the area to attempt to recover fragments after the event
58 Mun Intercepts (11/9/17)
A look at the various future orbits of our new moonlet Alaba as it passes through Mun's sphere of gravitational influence 58 times, altering its trajectory around Kerbin each time. It is currently predicted to eventually smash into Mun in early 2021
Munrise Over VAB (11/10/17)
Although the crescent Mun appears to be coming out from the roof of our Vertical Assembly Building, it's just a clever perspective trick combining long distance with a zoom lens
The causeway connection KSC and the Support Village has openings to allow floodwaters from heavy rainfall to flow into the ocean. This is also why they KSC and the Support Village are built on land several meters higher than the surrounding terrain
Better Weather (8/14/17)
Some nasty storms came through the past few days, causing us to have to repair the runway. Clearer skies have now returned and we hope they stick around for a while
Each Their Own (8/14/17)
Commander Valentina and Captain Jebediah are each embarking on a mission this day cycle, with Jeb taking out a Civvie for some contract flights while Val puts the rebuilt Deuce through its paces on the ground to make sure it is ready to resume flight trials
Mountains and Mun (8/14/17)
Out over the Highlands north of KSC for some atmospheric sampling, Captain Jebediah pilots a Civvie at 4.5km, the highest anyone can fly without a pressurized suit or cockpit
Moho & Sarnus Appulse (8/15/17)
Passing by each other in the sky at dawn, they are joined also by Urlum and Eve. Neidon is there too, but very faint to the lower left of Urlum
Progeny Mk4 Space Trajectories (8/15/17)
The two flights of the Mk4 that made it to space are shown here. Flight 3 reached a higher apokee thanks to its 3rd stage throttling to full power, while Flight 4's 3rd stage remained at 50% thrust the entire ascent. If you look closely at the initial ascent you will see Flight 4 was actually flying higher initially due to its lower TWR at liftoff producing longer burn times for its two solid booster stages,
Progeny Mk4 Alternate Designs (8/15/17)
As we were not completely sure the Mk4 would be able to reach space as originally designed, variants were developed in case we needed some extra push. At top we have three Mk1-B boosters strapped to the 1st stage which would have provided extra thrust at the start of the ascent. Below we have an extended 3rd stage with additional fuel to power the engine longer. These designs may still find use with the Mk5
Program Patch (8/15/17)
The design for the Mk5 patch reduces the size of the lower stage boosters and also lowers the representation of Kerbin to signify the higher altitudes this rocket will reach in space
Progeny Mk5 (8/15/17)
The last of the initially planned rockets in the Progenitor program, the Mk5 will be our workhorse sub-orbital rocket, capable of carrying small payload instruments to low-Kerbin space. It will also be the testing ground for our automated control scripting
kOS Boot Control (8/15/17)
The flowchart outlines the script that will manage the run programs sent to a rocket for execution. Each run program will perform a specific task and when it is completed, the script will be removed or kept for later use. New run scripts can be easily sent to the rocket to update existing instructions or load new ones
Exterior Check (8/16/17)
Captain Jebediah walks the outside of the Deuce in order to make sure all control surfaces are free of obstruction, airspeed tubes are clear, tires are well-inflated, etc etc before climbing into the cockpit to prep the Deuce for its second flight trial
Short Final (8/16/17)
The Deuce makes its approach to the runway with Captain Jebediah at the controls. Although he crashed on his first attempt back in June, this time he was able to put the aircraft down on the runway without trouble.
Roller Coaster Ride (8/16/17)
Captain Jeb's second flight in the Deuce was only slightly better than his first. The aircraft still gave him a lot of trouble flying level despite reduced pitch authority for the control surfaces. We are beginning to suspect it may be more of an aerodynamics stability issue
Molten Sunset (8/17/17)
Low clouds make for a stunning sunset, but they don't allow aircraft to depart
Deuce Interior (8/17/17)
In addition to the two pilots up front there is cabin space for up to 4 passengers. Future cabin designs will also include carrying large scientific payloads in lieu of passengers
Taxiing In (8/17/17)
After another decent landing on the runway, Captain Jebediah concludes the third flight trial of the Deuce, which uncovered numerous design flaws that will need to be corrected
Perfect Weather (8/18/17)
Not a cloud in the sky to obstruct the ascent of this high-altitude KerBalloon, making for 24.9km over the central plains region north of KSC
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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
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!
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…
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
