ATV Albert Einstein, as all spacecraft, needs a specific launcher adapter to connect the spacecraft to its Ariane rocket. We received some great pictures of Ariane's 'crowning' in Kourou and the whole process of integrating the (black) launcher adapter and ATV itself. Precision work with a 12-tonne spacecraft! A story in images:
ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Optique Video du CSG
ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Optique Video du CSG
L'apprenti sage DVD
Students send 'Message to Earth' into space via ESA's ATV and back home via the US Dragon capsule - scroll down for link to complete DVD in YT
We have a great little story to share with you today on the completion of an imaginative journey taken by a group of young people from the local community youth group (MJC) in Elbeuf, France, 120km north-west of Paris.
The nine students, aged 9-16, sent a DVD to the ISS on board ATV Eduardo Amaldi, which launched from Kourou, French Guiana, on board Ariane flight VA205 on 23 March 2012. The disc was stored, of course, on board Europe's Columbus science module.
Youth team from MJC Elbeuf
The DVD contained a video, "L'Apprenti sage," produced by the students that spotlighted their vision of our future, how society should develop and their hopes and dreams; environmental issues and the future of our planet were main themes.
L'apprenti sage - Un message à la Terre. Teaser
The group was also invited by ESA and CNES, the French space agency, to visit Europe's Spaceport at Kourou to watch the ATV-3 launch in person during 9-13 March last year.
DVD packed in ATV CTB cargo bag
The launch was, unfortunately, delayed, but the students had an excellent tour of the Arianespace launch facilities as well as the surrounding tropical ecosystem in French Guiana.
The closing link in this tremendous space voyage was provided by SpaceX, when the well-travelled DVD was returned to Earth via the Dragon capsule's CRS-1 mission, 8-28 October 2012. The DVD was then shipped back to Europe via Bremen and returned to the young producers in Elbeuf.
L'Apprenti sage - packing bag
"It's important for all of us who work in space to ensure that young people are given opportunities to develop their interest and passion toward careers in science, technology, engineering and math," says Jean-Michel Bois, Head of the ATV Operations Division at the ATV Control Centre in Toulouse.
"This is especially crucial with young people who may not otherwise be exposed to role models or experience inspirational events related to STEM. For youth, participating in a real space adventure can change lives."
The youth were presented with certificates to mark the tremendous voyage taken by their video DVD and to offer congratulations from the managers at ATV-CC and Col-CC.
Best wishes to everyone at MJC Elbeuf!
The full DVD is now available in YT!
Certificate presented to Elbeuf MJC and the DVD Team
More details (in French) via here and here.
Fact sheet for the ATV Albert Einstein mission to the ISS. Lift off is planned for 5 June 2013.
ATV-4 will carry the most dry cargo ever launched in any European spacecraft (2501 kg) and the most diverse cargo mix of any ATV mission (1400 different items).
It will be the heaviest spacecraft ever lifted by any Ariane rocket (20 235 kg).
Here's the correct answer to Tuesday's 2nd question in our Mission Quiz ("In which blockbuster Hollywood movie did a desktop model of ATV recently appear? ") courtesy of our keen-eyed ATV blog co-editor Julien Harrod, who first spotted this magnificent scene with ATV in...
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Herewith, we're delighted to present the results of judging of the submissions sent in via Twitter and the blog!
Congratulations to the winner, Michel Derretiere, with the the first, best response:
Bonjour,
Le film, c'est Transformers 3. On voit aussi Ariane 5. Les 2 sont sur le bureau d'un ingenieur de la NASA. Je ne me rappelle plus exactement, mais la scene se passe dans la premiere partie du film. Le jour de gloire cinematographique de l'ATV 
Lift-off for ATV Albert Einstein on board Ariane flight VA213 from Kourou is now planned for 5 June 2013. Details later.
The launcher for Arianespace’s fourth flight with an Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) is rapidly taking shape at the Spaceport, preparing it for liftoff in the spring from French Guiana with the International Space Station’s latest resupply spacecraft.
Ariane 5’s cryogenic core stage is suspended over the launch table in the Spaceport’s Launcher Integration Building. Credits: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Optique Video du CSG
During activity this month in the Spaceport’s Launcher Integration Building, the heavy-lift vehicle’s core cryogenic stage was suspended over the mobile launch table, followed by positioning of its two solid propellant boosters.
The launcher’s EPS storable propellant upper stage will then be installed, readying the Ariane 5 for transfer to the Final Assembly Building, where the latest ATV – named after Albert Einstein – is to be mated.
Via Arianespace
The Ariane 5 for Arianespace’s upcoming flight with an Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) resupply spacecraft has arrived in French Guiana, maintaining the mission pace for this industry-leading launcher.
The container with Ariane 5’s cryogenic core stage departs the roll-on/roll-off ship at Pariacabo Port in this view from the sea-going vessel. Credits: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Optique Video du CSG
After completing a trans-Atlantic voyage on one of two roll-on/roll-off ships used in the transportation of Arianespace launch vehicles, the Ariane 5 was delivered to Pariacabo Port this week and transferred in a vehicle convoy to the nearby Spaceport.
Scheduled for the spring as Arianespace’s second heavy-lift launch in 2013, the flight will orbit ATV Albert Einstein – Europe’s fourth spacecraft for resupply of the International Space Station.
via Arianespace
ATV-4 launch 18 April 2013 - L - 4 months
Ariane 5 VA211 launch - L - 8 hours
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
I am back in Kourou... it is a year since I was here but somehow it feels like yesterday. The space world is relatively small and very stable. We tend to stick to our projects until the very end and since many such projects last seven years, or more, we tend to run into the same people at regular intervals. ATV has been running since 1999 (at least in my case); Ariane for much longer. Therefore I start running into colleagues and acquaintances as soon as I enter the lounge at Orly.
Kourou, French Guiana Credits: ESA-S.Corvaja
Editor's note: The latest instalment in Deputy Mission Manager Charlotte Beskow's mission diary
ATV-3 preparation is entering the final stages!
ATV is in the high bay of S5C at Kourou, the very large integration hall located a few km away from the launch zone. It is in two pieces, space craft and cargo carrier. Teams are busy with several tasks in parallel and we are making up for lost time by working three shifts per day and Saturdays.
Initial checkout has begun at the Spaceport for Europe’s fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), which is to be launched from French Guiana by Arianespace on a servicing mission to the International Space Station next year.
The Service Module for ATV Albert Einstein is positioned on its integration rig at Kourou's S5 payload preparation facility. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Optique Video du CSG
ATV-4's Integrated Cargo Carrier is prepared for entry into the S5 complex. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Optique Video du CSG
The activity underway includes verifications of the ATV’s Service Module in the Spaceport’s S5 payload preparation building, where it has been joined by the resupply spacecraft’s other major spacecraft element – the Integrated Cargo Carrier.
With ATV-3 securely docked to the Space Station and Dutch ESA astronaut André Kuipers in charge of unpacking it is only fitting that we continue our investigation of ATV’s European origins with a post on The Netherlands’ contribution to ATV.
ATV Solar panels
The solar panels, providing all the power to ATV, are supplied by Leiden-based company Dutch Space. The panels weigh 160 kg and are over 22 meters long when unfurled. Dutch Space also supplies the solar panels for the future constellation of Galileo satellites.
While unpacking, André will be pleased to know that ATV’s ventilation system is provided by Bradford Engineering. Despite the English sounding name, Bradford Engineering is based in the Netherlands, near the Belgian border. The ‘Cabin Fan Assembly’ assures that air is properly circulated in the ATV. (more...)
