Jules Verne ATV Blog

Jules Verne ATV Blog http://webservices.esa.int/blog/blog/1 Welcome to the ATV 'Jules Verne' Blog! This blog is operated by ESA - the European Space Agency - as an unofficial and in-depth source of information for the general public. The ATV Blog is provided strictly on an unofficial, 'best-effort' basis and ESA makes no warranty that the comments, opinions or information expressed in this blog are confirmed, accurate, official or in any way reflect the formal policies of the European Space Agency. administrator 2012-02-11T08:49:23Z A short note on ATV-ISS distances http://webservices.esa.int/blog/post/1/218 As you search around the Web for news on ATV, you'll find various descriptions - and differing values - for the "S" station-keeping points near the ISS. The S-numbers correspond to specific locations in space through which the ATV will pass or at which ATV will perform some action (details under 'Full story'). -- Daniel For S3, S4 and S41 - some of the final S-points through which ATV passes prior to docking - the distances between ATV and the ISS are sometimes given as 249 m, 19 m and 11 m, respectively, and sometimes as 250 m, 20 m, and 12 m, respectively. Both are correct. The first set of numbers represents the distance from the ATV's docking probe tip to the passive docking assembly on the Russian Service Module; this is the so-called 'Relative Range' and these are the values the ISS crew will be using - and seeing on the video display (Simvol display) that shows live video of the approaching ATV with telemetry data overlay. <a id="res_299" href="http://webservices.esa.int/blog/gallery/1/vlcsnap-14820.jpg"><img src="http://webservices.esa.int/blog/gallery/1/previews-med/vlcsnap-14820.jpg" border="0" alt="SIMVOL display screen on ESA Docking Video System" /></a> You can see the distance and speed displayed in this screenshot of a docking simulation. Look for Ρ and 'Ρ-dot' - same character with a small 'dot' added on top - at right in the image; these correspond to distance and speed in m and m/sec, respectively. The second set of numbers correspond to the same distances, but without the probe. At ESA's European Astronaut Centre (EAC), Cologne, Germany, where ATV crew training is done, the first set of distances is used. There is a profile image of the (Russian) docking system used by ATV below; the probe extends from the ATV (at left) and enters the docking port in the Russian ISS module (at right). <a id="res_298" href="http://webservices.esa.int/blog/gallery/1/RDS-2.jpg"><img src="http://webservices.esa.int/blog/gallery/1/previews-med/RDS-2.jpg" border="1" alt="Russian Docking System - profile diagramme" /></a> Technology 2008-03-29T14:58:20Z danielscuka Artemis: ESA's relay satellite supports ATV http://webservices.esa.int/blog/post/1/185 <a id="res_265" href="http://webservices.esa.int/blog/gallery/1/IMG_1445.JPG"><img src="http://webservices.esa.int/blog/gallery/1/previews/IMG_1445.JPG" border="0" align="left" /></a> Benoit Demelenne, head of the Redu Spacecraft Operations Team at ESA's Redu tracking station, sent in this email yesterday. Note that Artemis is ESA's own relay satellite, and in addition to supporting ATV, it is used to receive data from ESA's hugely successful Envisat mission (more info including links after the jump). -- Daniel   <blockquote> "Following the successful launch of ATV at 05:03 on Sunday, the Artemis relay satellite acquired telemetry signals from ATV at 06:45:58 as planned. The data were received via the Artemis feeder link antenna at Redu station and were passed on to ATV-CC at Toulouse. So far, 9 passes were supported for a total of more than 6 hours of telemetry and telecommand support. All activity here has been completely nominal." </blockquote> Benoit says that Redu will provide additional support to the ATV mission using Artemis up to the docking, now planned for 3 April. Once ATV is docked, Artemis will continue to provide means of communication with mission controllers at ATV-CC. For now, ATV is also using NASA's TDRS relay satellite system.  There is an album of Redu images under the "Media" link at top.  For more info, see: Artemis operations: <a href="http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/SEM2RDSMTWE_0.html" target="_blank">http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/SEM2RDSMTWE_0.html</a> Envisat mission operations: <a href="http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/SEMOZY8L6VE_0.html" target="_blank">http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/SEMOZY8L6VE_0.html</a> ESA's ESTRACK network:  <a href="http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/SEM8YCSMTWE_0.html" target="_blank">http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/SEM8YCSMTWE_0.html</a> For the webcam at Cebreros, ESA's 35m deep-space station in Spain - which is now supporting Venux Express, among other missions - and hasn't much to do with ATV (but is cool nonetheless!): <a href="http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/SEM26DSMTWE_0.html" target="_blank">http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/SEM26DSMTWE_0.html</a> Technology 2008-03-11T18:16:20Z danielscuka A couple of Q&As on launch http://webservices.esa.int/blog/post/1/98 These from the ESA info pack prepared a few days ago - we had a discussion last night on the Ariane launch capacity; the <a href="http://webservices.esa.int/blog/post/1/76" target="_blank">thread starts here</a>. -- Daniel  Why is the ATV launched on an Ariane 5ES instead of an ECA? The ATV missions require several ignitions of the upper stage, first to circularize the orbit and then achieve a safe re-entry of the stage. At this time, such multiple ignitions cannot be done with the ESC-A stage as the HM-7B engine cannot be restarted. A re-ignition test on a similar upper stage is planned on an Ariane 5 mission prior to ATV launch. Are there new requirements on the launcher (hardware and software) as the ATV is more than twice heavier than any payload composite ever flown on Ariane 5? The main improvement is the introduction of a reinforced equipment bay structure to withstand the loads. The lower part of the launcher remains unchanged. In addition, numerous tests have been conducted on the EPS upper stage’s Aestus engine. As usual for any Ariane 5 mission, mission-specific flight software will be used to take in consideration the different centre of gravity and other specifications. Technology 2008-03-09T04:27:53Z danielscuka Progress docking video - a preview for ATV docking 3 April http://webservices.esa.int/blog/post/1/68 <img src="http://webservices.esa.int/blog/gallery/1/progress-docking-iss-2008-01-L.jpg" alt="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." align="left" />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 (<a href="http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/SEMTJZJ26DF_0.html" target="_blank">you can see a simulation of what the system will display on 3 April in ESA's Operations website here</a>). 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: <a id="res_183" href="http://webservices.esa.int/blog/gallery/1/progress-iss-docking-2008-02_L.swf">progress-iss-docking-2008-02_L.swf</a> ((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.)) Technology 2008-03-08T14:47:26Z danielscuka