How did it feel inside the main control room at ATV-CC during the last moment of the ATV-2 mission? Have a look at this video...
Only two days after the successul end of the ATV-2 mission the craft was again on the podium: now at the Paris Air and Space Show at Le Bourget. Of course the vessel itself wasn't there, but it was much talked about and - yes - admired.
ATV model was nicely presented in the ESA Pavillion at the Paris Air Show
All seats were taken and people stopped when Alberto Novelli, Head of ESA’s ATV Mission Operations, talked on Thursday about the ATV-2 at Le Bourget
ATV related items were displayed in the other stands as well, but the the most charming item was ATV's colleague, Japan's HTV. This detailed model demonstrates one of the differences between these two cargo carriers: HTV can take some cargo in its non-pressurised compartment.
HTV model at the Paris Air Show
REBR - Reentry Breakup Recorder. Credit: The Aerospace Corp.
The REBR team at The Aerospace Corp. have informed us that, for reasons unknown, no data were received from the REBR on board ATV-2 during its reentry on 21 June. They will now conduct a study to identify possible causes.
As we reported in our earlier blog post, the REBR is a basic, 'blue-sky' research tool that aims to gather data during atmospheric reentries. Operating in this harsh and extremely dynamic environment, an REBR failure could have been generated by a variety of causes. Identifying this/these is a valid and even vital element in the scientific process and may offer valuable lessons for the future.
The REBR flew on board ATV-2 as a 'piggyback' device that, success or failure, had no effect on ATV's controlled reentry, which successfully concluded shortly after 20:41 UT on 21 June 2011. If requested, ESA's ATV team will be pleased to assist the REBR researchers to every extent possible in their failure study. It should be noted that the first REBER was onboard Japan's HTV2 cargo vessel when it reentered in March 2011 and operated as expected, providing data on the breakup of that vehicle.
For Dr Bill Ailor and the REBR team, best wishes with future research!
More last, best pictures! NASA's astronaut Ron Garan (@Astro_Ron) has posted these excellent photos via Twitter taken from the ISS as ATV departed earlier this week. Click for full size versions!
ATV-2 as it departs ISS against the backdrop of our beautiful planet. Credit: NASA via Twitpic
European cargo spacecraft ATV-2 fires its jets as it backs away from the ISS. Credit: NASA via Twitpic
One of the last, best pictures of ATV Johannes Kepler taken just a few moments after it undocked from the Russian module of the ISS, 20 June 2011. Photos credit: Cosmonaut Alexander Samokutyaev via Roscosmos.
ATV Johannes Kepler undocking. Credit: Roscosmos
Editor's note: Early this morning, ESA's Charlotte Beskow sent in a final summary on mission team activities during the past few hectic days.
Time is up, as they say
Johannes Kepler - in the shape of ATV-2 - has ceased to be. And what did we achieve during ATV-2’s stay in orbit?
"Johannes Kepler may rest in peace... And while we might regret the demise of this great vehicle it is important to note that we are already preparing the launch of ATV-3, Edoardo Amaldi... whom, I suppose, we can baptise 'Little Eddie.' Stay tuned..." - CB
Europe’s unmanned ATV space freighter plunged on command into Earth’s atmosphere today to end its mission as a spectacular shooting star over the southern Pacific Ocean. Contact with the spacecraft was lost at 20:41:39 GMT (22:41:39 CEST) at an altitude of 80 km.
Full end-of-mission report via esa.int
ATV fragmentation predicted to have started by now. Kepler's gone...
Loss of telemetry confirmed - radio contact with ATV Johannes Kepler has ended.
ESA's Charlotte Beskow, deputy ATV programme head: "There is nothing more we can do but watch."
