Year 8

Year 8, Day 47 (Enterprise Tests Pathfinder Payloads)

sayburstuff Year 8 , , ,

screenshot317.pngEnterprise launches the next Pathfinder test payload, the Mk7 Atmospheric Probe – designed for landing on terrestrial targets, the lander has the typical 4 leg design of a lander, but with additional fuel for precise landings and in some cases, jumps on planet surfaces!

screenshot318.png

The burn to fall out of orbit goes well, however engineers already see a problem – power levels are fairly low, additional batteries or perhaps even a solar array might be called for!  Additionally, communications systems on the craft seem insufficient – a more powerful antenna is needed!

screenshot321.png

In all the test is mostly successful, engineers start work right away on an upgraded design for the Mk7 probe!

 

Year 8, Day 46 (Enterprise Tests Pathfinder Payloads)

sayburstuff Year 8 , , ,

screenshot294.pngAs part of the upcoming Pathfinder missions, several probe designs need real-world testing, beyond what a simple simulation can provide.

screenshot296.png

To help facilitate this, Enterprise is loaded with 3 of the new probes and heads to the launchpad! Mirphe will be piloting the shuttle, and Chrisnic will be onboard to supervise the launches!screenshot299.png

So far so good!  Launcher is away, circularizing Enterprise’s orbit!

-Mirphe

screenshot301.pngOnce Enterprise is in a stable orbit, the cargo bay doors open – time to test some probes! The first launch is the Mk 6 Atmospheric Probe – designed for water landings on Laythe, Jool’s closest moon and Kerbin-look-a-like!

screenshot306.png

Probe is away!  Remote systems responding… sending it for a water landing!

screenshot308.png

The probe drifts away from Enterprise until it’s time to fire the retro rockets that will take it to the surface…

screenshot312.png

Probe is on course – all systems nominal!

-Chrisnic

screenshot313.png

The parachute deploys, and the probe drifts slowly to the ocean surface!

screenshot315.png

Splashdown!  The probe lands safely and the solar panels deploy – all systems seem to be working perfectly!

“I’d call that a success!”

-Mirphe

KSEA Search and Rescue heads out to recover the probe, and the Enterprise crew rests for a day before the next launch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 8, Day 40 (Kerbol Two Update)

sayburstuff Year 8 , ,

KERBOL2.png

Kerbol 2 is just 4 days from its closest point with the sun, so the massive heat shield deploys!

The crafts radiators also fully deploy, and Mission Control waits as the probe speeds closer and closer to the sun!

screenshot272

Even with the massive heat shield and the radiators onboard the probe, things get very, very hot.  KSEA isn’t sure if the craft will survive its first pass – perhaps the initial flyby was too close?

screenshot274.png

At 207k above the sun’s surface the first heat alarm goes off – nothing critical, but Kerbol Two is rapidly approaching its redline! screenshot276.png

Kerbol 2 finally dips below 200k, and so far heat readings are within tolerances… barely! screenshot278.png

Kerbol 2 makes it below 140k!  The heat shield begins glowling an unsettling shade of red!screenshot280.png

Kerbol 2 drops below 130km… The onboard thermostat reads at 440.71k – very hot!

screenshot281.png

Kerbol 2 drops below 120k!  Temperature reads… 445.3k!

screenshot282.pngThat’s it… it just dropped below 100k….

screenshot283.png

At 95km new heat alarms go off – the craft might be approaching its limits!  Even dipping below 90km, the craft seems to be holding together!

screenshot284.png

At 80.4km communications are suddenly lost, and the craft shrieks out its last scientific data…. Kerbol 2 is gone!

screenshot288.png

While it was highly expected that Kerbol 2 would not survive it was nonetheless disappointing that the mission ended in a giant explosion.  Already though plans are being drawn up for Kerbol 3, which will have even more heat shielding!

KERBOL2.png