25-10-2008 The European Space Agency ATV (Article 160)

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Simon Kenny
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Location: Shannon, Co. Clare, Ireland

25-10-2008 The European Space Agency ATV (Article 160)

Post by Simon Kenny » Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:39 pm

The European Space Agency ATV (Article 160)
A previous Shannonside Astronomy Club Limerick Leader article covered the launch of the European Space Agency’s Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) Jules Verne. Launched on an Ariane 5 in March 2008, with the key objective of proving the concept of using ATV’s as supply vehicles for space stations, we can now report that the entire mission was a complete success and a major boost for the European space industry. Having successfully tracked the International Space Station (ISS), the ATV had to carry out some very delicate manoeuvring routines before docking with it. Members of the Shannonside Astronomy Club followed the docking procedure with more than passing interest as a member of the club - Mikkel Bo Rasmussen, worked on the navigation software for the ATV. The 19 ton unmanned space craft manoeuvred from a holding position 39 Kilometres behind the ISS, making several stops for checks before finally docking with the 275 ton ISS. The ATV autonomously computed its own position through relative GPS (comparison between data collected by GPS receivers both on the ATV and the ISS) and in close range it used video meters pointed at laser retro-reflectors on the ISS to determine its distance and orientation relative to its target. The final approach was at a relative velocity of 7 cm per second while both the ATV and ISS orbited the earth at 28000 Km per hour at a height of 340 Kilometres.
During it’s mission, the ATV displayed the full range of its capabilities, including automatic rendezvous & docking, four ISS re-boosts to a higher orbital altitude to offset atmospheric drag, ISS attitude control, performing a collision-avoidance manoeuvre when fragments of an old satellite came within the Station's vicinity. Having delivered a total of 6 tonnes, which included refuelling propellants, water, oxygen and 1.3 tonnes of dry cargo including food, clothing, spares and other items the ATV remained docked to the ISS for 6 months.
In the final days before separation, the crew busied themselves loading almost 1000Kgs of dry waste and over 250Kgs of wet waste from the ISS to the ATV. Following a de-orbit burn, the Jules Verne finally ended it’s mission with a controlled break up over the Pacific on the 29th September. ESA is already thinking about the future of Automated Transport Vehicles, and hope to develop a craft that cannot only return to earth intact, but can also carry a crew of astronauts. Ireland is a member and we also contribute to the ESA budget.

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