MISSION OBJECTIVES
- Test orbital parameters computation
- Stay on orbit for 2-3 days long
- Study X-Plane orbit pertubations
- Test reaction control X Y Z axes (CANCELED)
- Keep perigee over Edwards AFB (CANCELED)
EXPECTED MISSION SEQUENCE
All times in GMT+2 or relative to orbit insertion. Format: day-hour:minute
00-00:00: Rollout
00-00:10: Liftoff from Edwards AFB
00-00:30: Orbit insertion
00-00:50: Burn at apogee to transfer to orbit 1
00-01:35: Burn at perigee to adjust to orbit 1
01-17:00: Change orbital inclination to 0 deg
03-17:30: Change orbital inclination to 37 deg
04-00:00: Start transfer to pre-deorbit orbit
04-00:45: Transfer to pre-deorbit orbit
04-01:30: Initiate deorbit sequence
04-02:30: Landing at Edwards AFB
PRIMARY ORBIT PARAMETERS
Orbit 1:
Inclination: 36.16 deg
Apogee: 600km-800km
Perigee: 600km-800km
Orbits: 12
Orbit 2:
Inclination: 36.16 deg
Apogee: 300km
Perigee: 300km
Orbits: 14
TARGET SPACECRAFT PARAMETERS
Spacecraft: XS Venture
Configuration: Orbital
MISSION REPORT
Successfull orbital insertion at 00-00:29:40.971
Encountered problems with GDC1 (guidance computer #1). The computer stopped working
at approximately 2 minutes into flight, resulting in computer #2 taking control over.
GDC2 was used until orbital insertion at 30 minutes into flight.
There were some computer problems encountered - such as RCS (reaction control system)
data display showed invalid information (corrupted), and computer prematurely switched
from OPS100 to OPS102, skipping OPS101. This posed no threat to the mission.
GDC1 was restarted at 00-00:41:45.641, and became operational.
For unknown reason GDC CAUTION/WARNING light remained lit after that,
while current operational computer indicator showed GDC1. Further investigation will be carried out
GDC1 was restarted again with small software update at 00-00:47:55.485.
The software update included fix for remote telemetry, and added ability to override RCS control.
Autopilot was switched to KILLROT mode at 00-00:52:32.648, completing KILLROT manuever
at 00-00:53:02.679.
Reaction control system was disabled at 00-00:53:14.493.
Re-enabled reaction control system was at 00-01:20:52.770 to perform apogee prograde burn.
Performed KILLROT at 00-01:32:47.313 to 00-01:33:32.822.
Reaction control system disabled again at 00-01:33:36.267
Spacecraft crew off-duty at 1 hour 40 minute MET (mission elapsed time). Shifted mission profile times by 30 min
Back on duty at 18 hours 50 minutes MET
Orbit increased by 200km - possible error in X-Plane calculations
Master reset performed at 00-19:46:17.585. Fixed problems with computers.
Reaction control switched on to perform retrograde burn for a 300km high orbit.
It was enabled at 00-20:49:02.257, and disabled at 00-20:57:19.281
Computer software was updated at 00-21:17:37.890, updating realtime feed page.
Rotational gyroscope assembly #2 failed at approximately 21 hours 16 minutes into mission
and was turned off. RPM sensor went off-scale high.
Software was updated again at 00-21:26:34.632 to fix bug in RGA data fetching.
RCS for prograde burn switched on at 00-21:34:52.414, bringing orbit apogee to 300km
Burn completed and RCS shut down at 00-21:40:45.351
16 orbits and counting. On-orbit time exceeds the one of XS8, making it the longest flight so far.
It is planned to change orbital inclination to 0 degrees in order to test
whether X-Plane's gravity accounts for surface curvature. If so, orbit would be much more
unstable on planet equator. It will be brought back to 36 degrees later.
Descended down to 200x200 orbit at 01-18:28:56.312
GDC restart at 01-18:37:25.930 which fixes bug in autopilot system.
Triggered softare error by setting wrong autopilot mode, wasnt a critical issue.
Inclination lowered to 30.6 degrees at 1 day 18 hours 54 minutes into mission
at descending node (lat around -28 degrees).
Software update adding spacecraft energy counter at 01-19:26:39.593.
Energy at this moment - 32.235 megajoules.
Inclination lowered to 21.0 degrees at 1 day 19 hours 43 minutes into mission
at ascending node (lat around 153 degrees).
Energy after manuever - 33.024 megajoules.
Inclination lowered to 8.1 degrees at 1 day 20 hours 35 minutes
at descending node (lat around -22 degrees).
Corrected orbit (lowered energy). Currently there is no specific orbit (transfer orbit).
Inclination lowered to 0.085 degrees at 1 day 21 hours 30 minutes into mission
at ascending node (lat around 138 degrees).
Corrected orbit to 300x300 orbit.
Energy after manuever - 32.834 megajoules. Monitoring energy state.
1 day 22 hours into mission - energy 32.875 megajoules.
Failure to compensate kinetic energy especially strong on equator
(possibly due to higher size of quadrants).
1 day 23 hours into mission - energy 32.965 megajoules.
Decision was approved to extend mission by one more day. It is now 4 days long.
Also it was suggested that another orbit will be tested for stability,
trasnsfer to which will start at 3 days 18 hours into mission.
Parameters are 1,305,000 feet and 14,909 knots groundspeed.
Master reset was performed at 03-18:03:30.593.
Correcting orbit to specified earlier.
Prior to correcting energy was more than 34.6 megajoules.
Now trasnferring to 395.76 km circular orbit.
Preparing for inclination change. Desc and asc node latitudes:
-27.8 (descending), 153.8 (ascending).
Transferred to orbit, but it wasnt stable, most likely because
on-board computers use true airspeed instead of groundspeed, and
changes to software could be made, but will make them later.
Stability of this orbit will be tested in XS10.
Inclination increased to 7.36 degrees at 3 days 20 hours into mission
at ascending node (lat around 153 degrees).
Inclination increased to 16.04 degrees at 3 days 21 hours 40 minutes into mission
at descending node (lat around -28 degrees).
Inclination increased to 29.16 degrees at 3 days 23 hours 40 minutes into mission
at ascending node (lat around 153 degrees).
Transferring to deorbit orbit 135kmx135km at 3 days 23 hours 50 minutes into mission.
Pre-deorbit checks at 04-00:24:00 (failsafe services)
Inclination increased to 34.6 degrees at 4 days 30 minutes into mission
at descending node (lat around -28 degrees).
Continuing transfer to pre-deorbit orbit at 04-00:35:00
Enabling hydraulic pumps, restoring pressure in hydraulic lines.
Started up GDC2 as backup for GDC1 at 04-00:42:58.310
On pre-deorbit orbit. 04-00:50:00, about 1 hour till touchdown.
10000 miles away. 04-01:00:00
Turning on fuel flow to rocket engines. Preparing them for ignition.
8500 miles away. Performing rollover, engines facing velocity vector. 04-01:12:00
3500 miles away. Deorbit burn at 04-01:46:25
Chunk missing, might be restored after data analysis
Artiftical stability did not engage during reentry, which resulted in heavy oscillations.
At some point speed limit was reached, but not exceeded, and thermal loads remained
ballanced.
Successful landing at runway 04 Edwards Air Force Base at 4 days, 2 hours, 30 minutes mission time!
XS9 mission has ended in a complete success
ORBIT LOG
00-00:29:40.971 #1 (reached space, transferring to stable orbit)
00-01:55:00.000 #2 (inexact marker)
00-03:32:53.859 #3
00-05:09:10.294 #4
00-06:45:10.273 #5
00-08:20:55.990 #6
00-09:59:36.261 #7
00-11:41:00.722 #8
00-13:22:50.171 #9
00-15:05:12.582 #10
00-16:48:20.976 #11
00-18:32:24.328 #12
00-20:14:20.726 #13 (transferred to 300x300)
00-21:49:31.742 #14
00-23:17:03.562 #15
01-00:45:21.700 #16
01-02:14:00.359 #17
01-03:43:41.468 #18
01-05:13:50.484 #19
01-06:44:09.320 #20
01-08:15:01.265 #21
01-09:46:23.281 #22
01-11:17:24.734 #23
01-12:48:03.359 #24
01-14:44:44.406 #25
01-16:44:39.171 #26
01-18:31:10.453 #27 (transferred to 200x200, incl 30.6 deg)
01-20:07:44.109 #28
01-21:46:41.150 #29 (transferred to 200x200, incl 0.085 deg)
01-23:16:25.203 #30
02-00:40:32.515 #31
02-02:00:53.156 #32
02-03:25:47.281 #33
02-04:59:02.930 #34
02-06:36:30.359 #35
02-08:10:54.310 #36
02-09:52:22.593 #37
02-11:27:31.620 #38
02-13:05:41.750 #39
02-14:42:38.203 #40
02-16:21:57.609 #41
02-18:04:40.780 #42
02-19:47:24.656 #43
02-21:29:31.875 #44
02-23:11:55.250 #45
03-00:54:29.312 #46
03-02:41:36.500 #47
03-04:27:37.310 #48
03-06:00:41.281 #49
03-07:46:37.281 #50
03-09:11:28.625 #51
03-10:29:54.343 #52
03-11:55:54.312 #53
03-14:32:22.312 #54
03-17:09:47.937 #55 (transferred to 397x397, incl 0.085 deg)
03-19:36:06.250 #56
03-21:12:44.310 #57
03-21:57:38.930 #58
03-22:47:27.687 #59
04-00:06:27.562 #60 (pre-deorbit trajectory)
04-02:30:00.000 Touchdown (RWY04 KEDW) (inexact marker)