Screenshot of Progress docking to the ISS in January 2008. Shot taken from the Russian camera system; ESA has developed a similar video system that will provide a real-time view of ATV approaching the Russian zvezda module.A very interesting video! This clip shows a Russian Progress vessel approaching the ISS for docking on 7 Feb 2008 (Progress mission M-63). It was recorded at MCC-M Moscow from the Russian video docking system, with the camera mounted inside Progress. So what's this got to do with ATV? Click 'Full story' for details as well as to view the actual video. -- Daniel

 

This video was recorded live on 7 Feb from the Russian video system, an upgraded version of which has been extended and redeveloped by ESA with Russian industry to create the new "ATV Docking Video system."

This extremely robust and sophisticated system delivers v. high quality digital video from the Russian Zvezda module direct to Earth, with more or less zero loss in quality, as there is no digital-to-analog conversion (except the initial conversion from the camera to the local data storage device in the module). This video is displayed in almost-real-time (actual time delay is less than 2 seconds, I heard) at ATV CC, in MCC-H Houston and MCC-M Moscow, as well as to the ISS astronauts watching ATV docking.

The system was developed to ensure that ATV fulfills Russian flight rules, which require a visual monitoring capability (you can see a simulation of what the system will display on 3 April in ESA's Operations website here).

Note that this video is an operationally required system; it's quality is good enough to allow ground controllers or astronauts to make a visual confirmation at all times during docking and, if ATV moves out of its planned flight path, astros or controllers can hit the 'red button' to command an emergency 'Escape' manoeuvre.

Click on this link to pop-open a browser window to play the Flash (SWF) video: progress-iss-docking-2008-02_L.swf

((Note the playback speed has been artificially speeded up - you can see the actual distance & speed (m, m/sec) to the station in the telemetry overlay - look at bottom right for the "p" and "p-with-dot" characters.))