Launching this month for the first time - the Progeny Mk7-B!
Asteroids of July 2020 (8/5/20)
Tying May with 12 known encounters, still the maximum number for the year so far
Alaba Trajectory Update (8/10/20)
New orbit after the 46th encounter this past weekend
Alaba Trajectory Update (8/10/20)
New orbit after the 46th encounter this past weekend
Progeny Mk7-B Rollout (8/12/20)
Heading to the launch pad for the first time atop the same carry vehicle used for Ascension rockets. Once installed atop the launch clamp and hooked to the service tower for stability, a fourth support leg will be installed
Extra System Checks (8/13/20)
When launching a new rocket, in this case the Progeny Mk7-B, it's always best to make extra, extra sure everything is working correctly, even if you have to delay a launch
Alaba Final Prediction?
Astronomers are 99% sure that the moonlet will indeed be ejected from the system over the next two months, taking into account the large trajectory changes that have in the past thrown off their propagation models. This time they think they have accounted for close Mun passes and although the exact timing of encounters may be off by several seconds or minutes the end result should be the same
Progeny Mk7-B No.1 (8/14/20)
The inaugural flight sees the rocket achieve all of its in-flight objectives however it did not fully survive re-entry and the second stage engine was not recovered as planned
Ospray Vacuum Restart (8/14/20)
While it's not the first time we've restarted an engine in flight, it is the first time for this particular engine. The lack of air pressure above the atmosphere means rapid expansion of the exhaust gases
Booster Recovery (5/14/20)
The first stage of the Progeny Mk7-B drifts back down to the Kerblantic, becoming the first booster to be recovered and hopefully even re-used one day. The VAB is just visible over the horizon
