Kerbal Space Agency

Updates from Mission Control here at the Kerbal Space Center on Kerbin. Come explore the Kerbol system with us!

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

progress is still being made, but you will want to follow or periodically check in on @DKerman_KSA because any updates posted here will just be deleted once things resume.... eventually....unfortunately there is no definite timeline - tho original hope was early 2026

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

If the website/ops tracker are not working at all anytime in the next couple of months it's just us trying to fix things that break during updates/changes

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

Yea, this is really happening. We will see how it goes. Mean time, posting this to check that the widget on the website picks it up and is just displaying nothing cause past posts are too old. Soooo much to fix, update, replace, reacquaint with, etc etc etc etc

[Drew Kerman @DKerman_KSA]

wildly successful year trucking and teching fireworks shows. Bought a laptop that can run KSP, have my desktop setup in the van - I’m going to have a go at bringing KSA back.

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

Still not sure if KSA will return someday to explore far the outer Kerbol system - I want to! - but right now a real space explorer needs support so please sign and share to keep New Horizons performing the mission it was made for, and only it can do! https://t.co/w29VeM0FHa

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

To Be Continued...?
https://t.co/qrDSOagQp0

(site may be a bit slow for some reason)

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

@Tux9001 *stirs in its grave*

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

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

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

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

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

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

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

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

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

🌅Sunrise/Sunset🌄
@ KSC (UTC-5)

2/18
#2🌄09:12:24 🌅11:22:45
#3🌄15:13:15 🌅17:23:36
#4🌄21:14:06 🌅23:24:27

2/19
#1🌄03:14:57 🌅05:25:18

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

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

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

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

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

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

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

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

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

some Ascension Mk2 https://t.co/CnencQRfeA have now been claimed by the Mk3:

(previous record)
Heaviest Rocket Launched, Minus Payload: 19.862t (17.5t)
Heaviest Payload Launched, Orbital Trajectory: 1.662t (767kg)
Tallest Rocket Launched: 16.782m (16.212m)

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

with us removed from KSC we have to cease some launch prep but no change yet to the Progeny Mk8 launch date. Tho it is most likely delayed, we don't yet know by how much so original launch target will remain our goal until we can determine how soon we can launch after that

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

🌅Sunrise/Sunset🌄
@ KSC (UTC-5)

2/17
#2🌄09:09:00 🌅11:19:21
#3🌄15:09:51 🌅17:20:12
#4🌄21:10:42 🌅23:21:03

2/18
#1🌄03:11:33 🌅05:21:54

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

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 (https://t.co/nMCHVgkVNG) we have no choice but to take this seriously & deal with the relatively minor inconvenience compared to a potential loss of life

[Kerbal Space Agency @KSA_MissionCtrl]

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