The Kerbal Space Agency - Flight Tracker v3 w/Better ground plots, telemetry, navigation & more!

Drew Kerman · December 13, 2014

The previous capsule return test was perfect right up to the point where chute deployment failed to return the capsule safely to the ground after re-entering the atmosphere. Engineers re-did the math and tweaked the chute timings to give the capsule enough altitude to slow for a safe landing. In addition, a new SRB design and solar panel array was available to be used with this launch to test their performance prior to their use on Duna I. The LES was retained throughout the mission to help document the spacecraft, which was especially useful during the early stages of re-entry before heat seared the lens.

Drew Kerman · December 16, 2014

The Inter-Planetary Communication Satellite network has so far seen several setbacks, mainly the fact that both IP ComSats failed to achieve orbit on their first launches. In the case of the second launch failure, actual sabotage was alleged by some news agencies, although independent investigation by the KSA is underway and has so far turned up no conclusive evidence of tampering with the launch vehicle. The KSA only needs two satellites to complete this network, but the failure of this second attempt to put IP ComSat II into orbit could jeopardize the entire operation and place extra stress on the KSA to explain these issues to its investors. With all this in mind, Lead Engineer Simon and his team have worked diligently in the hopes of finally completing the IP ComSat network with this launch.

Drew Kerman · January 4, 2015

The first inkling that the KSA was planning an interplanetary mission came back in August of 2014. It took three months of planning and construction of the probe parts (including new solar panels, radar topography scanner, and science instruments) followed by two months of construction and testing for the rocket (including new SRBs, a new orbital engine and an entirely new 2.5m rocket system). The end result was the most advanced craft to date, which was needed to get its payload as far as Duna. Launched during a transfer window, the journey would still take several weeks. This dispatch covers the design, testing, construction, launch and TDI burn that sets the craft on its way towards interplanetary space.

For more on the test flight, see Mission Dispatch #46
for more details on the Aerial Observation Platform, see its flight log: http://imgur.com/a/3D4YS
(to the left, Duna I transfer stage has been fully assembled)
$lioARrn.png\$

Edited February 13, 2015 by Gaiiden

Drew Kerman · January 11, 2015

Ever since the historic first orbit of Kerbin by Cmdr Jebediah Kerman, kerbals have only ever repeatedly visited Low-Kerbin Orbit (LKO), with some forays out to Mid-Kerbin Orbit (MKO). The KSA has been planning for months to send a kerbal into orbit around Mun, but only now has the chance come to do so after many tests of new technologies, including a whole new 2.5m rocket system. The mission is planned to also service the various satellites that are in orbit around Mun to further expand the Agency's scientific knowledge and long-range communication capabilities. On the cusp of yet another historic moment, the KSA aims to meet and surmount the inevitable challenges ahead.

for more on the Mk1-2 capsule and 2.5m rocket system development & testing see mission dispatch #46
for more on the launch of Duna I, see mission dispatch #48
for more information on the satellites making up our communications network see our Active Flights in the main post

Mun I engine throttle failure was determined to be caused by a damaged control line. It has since been re-designated Mun III to fly again with additional structural support

Drew Kerman · January 14, 2015

The KSA has been aware for some time of a limitation with their remote operation system, which is capable of pointing the rocket and performing burns with an engine when not in contact with mission control (assuming these commands were programmed while contact was established). What it is *not* capable of is controlling the RCS system. Since most of our small probes rely solely on RCS to perform maneuvers, this has been a small problem for operations around Kerbin, and only becomes a larger one when conducting maneuvers on probes outside the system. The solution is finally at hand with some new software, but to test it the Agency needs to loft a probe up into LKO, after which it will be de-orbited once the software is confirmed operational.

For more on Mun I see mission dispatch #49

Edited January 18, 2015 by Gaiiden

Drew Kerman · January 18, 2015

One of the longer-running R&D programs has been work on docking ports for spacecraft to join up in orbit and transfer crew and materiel. The program was begun after orbital rendezvous of spacecraft was proven to be not only possible (see mission dispatch #23) but capable by astronauts fresh out of the Academy (see mission dispatches #31, 35). The ability to join craft via fuel lines is extremely limited for long-term space operations and the eventual construction of a space station. For the first docking, a kerbed craft will rendezvous and couple with an un-kerbed craft launched into orbit ahead of time. This is mainly due to our current small astronaut corps and the unwillingness, at this stage in our program, to have two kerbed flights in orbit at the same time.

for more on the Mun I mission, see dispatch #49
$XN5dVC0.png\$
The ascent program was eventually scrubbed entirely and sent back to the drawing
board. Future attempts will be made, but using small sounding rockets

Edited February 15, 2015 by Gaiiden

Drew Kerman · January 26, 2015

Despite some recent launch failures the KSA was looking forward to taking their next big step in space exploration - landing a probe on Mun. This mission, dubbed Mun II, was also paving the way for an eventual rover landing as well - the lander for this mission is carrying a science bay but is weighted and designed similar to the lander that will be delivering a rover onto the surface. This rocket is also the first 2.5/1.25m hybrid, launching on the larger diameter and traveling to Mun on the smaller. Unfortunately, the mission was plagued with communications issues and an investigation of the launch pad turned up an even more serious problem for the Agency.

Mun II rendering as fully staged for lift off
for more on the Mun I failure, see dispatch #49
For more on the alluded launch failure, see dispatch #51

Mun II rendering as it would appear in landing configuration

Drew Kerman · February 2, 2015

For months now the R&D branch of the KSA has been working tirelessly to turn kethane, an abundant mineral found both here on Kerbin and in spectra on other bodies in the solar system, into rocket fuel. Not only would this greatly reduce our dependency on other sources of propellant, it would allow us to refuel in-situ, saving costs and weight on future missions to the surface of other planets and moons. The road was long but eventually scientists were able to deploy and test a drill and converter unit here on Kerbin.

Edited February 15, 2015 by Gaiiden

Drew Kerman · February 3, 2015

When C7 Aerospace purchased the Aerospace Group from the KSA and moved some of their operations to KSC, some of their aircraft became available for use on science missions. The most well-rounded craft, the K-130, was generally the workhorse as it was able to be configured for a number of different missions.

For this flight, Kirk and Greggan were to drop 4 pods over different biomes near the KSC. These science pods are larger, contain more instruments and can send more data than the previous drop pods used by the Mk1.2 Raker.

Drew Kerman · February 8, 2015

After the issues that marred the previous flight, flight officers Kirk and Greggan took the K-130 out for another run at dropping 4 pods across various biomes in the immediate area around the KSC. This time, the science drop pods were stored close to the center of mass on the wings, and also slung underneath the belly to avoid any control problems after dropping.

Drew Kerman · February 13, 2015

With 4 more pods attached, Flight Officers Kirk and Greggan took the C7 Aerospace K-130 up for another series of biome drops, hoping for clean separations this time out. Their hopes were rather short lived, however. Kirk may have lost his temper a little bit, but still did his best to complete the mission.

meve12 · February 15, 2015

The hyperlink is labeled #2, not #3. Might want to fix that.

Drew Kerman · February 16, 2015

After over a month of repairs required to get the launch pad back to operational status after being nearly destroyed by 2.5m rocket launches, the KSA is finally ready to really kick off 2015 operations. We are starting small, however, to ensure the pad repairs have been adequate. The ComSat Minmus I satellite will be the first to orbit the second moon of Kerbin and will be the start of another triple-constellation around the equator that will provide complete omni network coverage for future craft. We plan to make Eeloo an important way station for future kerbed space flight so this investment in communications infrastructure will pay off down the road. This mission would also go on to uncover a serious flaw in our mission planning software that would affect another planned launch.

For more on the launch pad damage, see Dispatch #52

MK3424 · February 17, 2015

Very cool mission briefings and flight logs, aswell as great screenshots!

Drew Kerman · February 19, 2015

The planning, development, construction, launch and transfer burn of Duna I were covered back in Dispatch #48 and we now pick up the story from when the craft exited the Kerbin system. 71 days of transit later after a mid-course correction burn it was due to finally arrive at Duna, becoming the first space craft to travel to another planet.

For more on the RCS control software test, see Dispatch #50

Nitrous Oxide · February 23, 2015

Just wanted to say that this has heavily inspired my latest career playthrough, keep up the great work!

Drew Kerman · February 25, 2015

One of the great debates in medical science was the amount of force which can be applied in short interval to a kerbal's body before catastrophic damage occurs. 18Gs was thought to be instant death for a kerbal who happened to suffer such an extreme force for some reason or another. Many tests were designed to prove or disprove this number, but none of them could conclusively do so. The only way was to subject a kerbal to such a force. But who could be so brave as to stare death in the face? Well, with the birth of the aviation industry came the birth of a new class of kerbal - the test pilot. These aviators threw caution into the wind to help early engineers determine whether or not a design was stable in flight. Wind tunnels? Pah! These kerbs didn't believe in anything but the results their own testing produced. So when The Aerospace Group brought in two test pilots to work on their experimental craft, a light bulb went on in someone's head that a whole bunch of rockets were being stored right next door. One thing led to another and soon a 6km-long test track was constructed with a sled bolted onto it carrying a solid rocket booster on its back. Strapped into that rocket sled... was a kerbal.

This summary covers events between Dispatch #21 and Mk1 Lawn Dart - Entry #2, leading up to the events of Mk1.2 Raker - Entry #4

Flight Officer Jermal Kerman was a noted aviator within the armed forces and spent most of his time training new recruits and testing new airframes. Always willing to push the envelope, he once disintegrated a fighter trying to pull 10Gs out of a dive. The fact that he survived that catastrophe has only emboldened him, although it later almost led to his discharge from the service when he attempted to pull an even more extreme stunt while shuttling an Admiral around in his private aircraft. Feeling confined by the military, he jumped at the opportunity to join a private aerospace corporation to test out their new flight designs. When he was approached with the idea of being strapped onto a rocket and pushed at extreme velocities down a metal track to a sudden stop, reports are that some sort of maniacal glint appeared in his eyes.
Flight Officer Jermal Kerman
The first sled test was designed to just brush the edge of supposed kerbal limits, bringing Flight Officer Jermal to a shuddering stop in less than 5 seconds and producing upwards of -15Gs of force on his body. Engineers wanted to test out the sled and harness designs as much as they wanted to push the boundaries of Jermal's endurance. For all intents and purposes, the initial rocket sled test held on May 29th, 2014, went off as planned. The only issue was the harness holding down Jermal was not as well-designed as engineers had hoped, causing some uncomfortable bruising. The design changes needed were minor however, and another sled test took place on June 1st to push Jermal up to -18Gs. Many in the science community decried the testing as too extreme, but Jermal would hear none of it and told the project engineers he wished to proceed. He walked away once again, this time however with noticeable damage to his body, including bruised ribs, a broken wrist and a strained neck. Still, only a week later he was back for one final run up to -25Gs, despite his wrist injury. A miscalculation by engineers setting up the water trap meant that Jermal only ended up being slowed at a force of -23Gs after rocketing down the track, but he still suffered broken ribs in addition to further damaging his neck and wrist. The important thing though is that he came away alive, proving that with the proper restraints, a kerbal can survive much more force than originally believed.
Jermal in front of the Mk1.2 Raker
After weeks of healing, Jermal did return to active duty and test flying aircraft for The Aerospace Group. Sadly, his penchant for pushing the limits led to his death in mid-July, when he attempted to side-slip a plane down onto the runway, flipping over and turning the aircraft into a ball of fire. At his funeral service, in recognition for his G tests, Flight Officer Jermal Kerman was awarded the highest honor in service to kerbalkind. The data from his test runs are still being put to use today designing safer restraints and crash systems, saving untold number of kerbal lives in the process.

Edited February 25, 2015 by Gaiiden

Drew Kerman · March 5, 2015

With Kirk and Wernher overseeing the installation of our new science drop pods, hopes were high that staging issues would not prevent science from being done. In addition, these new drop pods are larger and meant to be deployed from as high as 21km, running a custom kOS script on descent to automatically run experiments in both upper and lower atmospheres and also on the ground if battery power remains by then. To help ensure some EC is left extra capacitors have installed along with double the battery capacity of the original pods. The work that goes into automating these pods will be directly applied to the Duna I atmospheric probe later this year.

Edited March 5, 2015 by Gaiiden

Drew Kerman · March 15, 2015

Although the last outing was not very fruitful, we had a second (and last) batch of drop pods to be able to make another flight the next day. The sensors on the pods were all double-checked to ensure that they were set for the proper deployment altitude. Even still, things did not go entirely according to plan...

Drew Kerman · April 3, 2015

After several delays, including one failed launch attempt, the first kerbed mission to Mun finally got off the ground and into orbit around our closest neighbor. The mission was tasked with gathering science data from the ComSat Mun III transfer stage, upgrading ComSat Mun I with capacitors and an additional dish, and refueling all three Munar ComSats. Although the gathering of science data went well, the mission quickly turned into a life-or-death scenario that pushed the KSA to its limits and severely tested both those on the ground and in space. The battle to return two stranded astronauts was on!

Read More

Apologies to all for the external linkage, but moving forward it is getting too time-consuming to do a complete cross-post from imgur to here