Category Archives: Images

ATV-5′s wings

Credits: Dutch Space

While ATV-4 is getting ready for launch on 5 June in Kourou, French Guiana, elsewhere in the world people are finishing ATV-5's components. Here an engineer at Dutch Space is performing final checks on the hinges that deploy ATV's solar panels - or 'wings' as they are lovingly called at Dutch Space. This picture shows a rare view of a spacecraft's solar panels from behind, the side that does not point at the Sun and not covered in solar cells.

This is one of ATV-5's solar panels as it will fly in space. It is not necessary to protect the cables other than fixing them in a wavy line to withstand physical stress during launch and deployment.

As the solar panels are not meant to be opened up under Earthly gravity a special rig hung from the ceiling is needed to spread them out. Weights at the bottom keep everything in place.

Credits: Dutch Space

When inspection is finished, and all is perfect, the iconic "remove before flight" tags are attached and the solar panels are folded and prepared for transport to join the last ATV, Georges Lemaître

 

Credits: Dutch Space

LRR replacement complete

Russian mission control has just confirmed that the two cosmonauts have successfully replaced the Laser Radar Reflector (LRR – docking target) located at the aft end of the Russian Service Module. ATV-4 will use this during the Rendezvous phase of its automated docking, set for 15 June.

Helmet cam view of LRR replacement 19 April 2013

Helmet cam view of LRR replacement 19 April 2013

Mission quiz: Answer 2 – In which movie do we see ATV?

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 ;-)

(more...)

ATV-4 before fuelling

Some excellent new pictures in collaboration with our friends at CNES, Arianespace and Optique Video du CSG of ATV Albert Einstein before it went for fuelling. See more ATV pictures on ESA week in images.

 

 

 

 

ATV-4 cargo loading underway

A fabulous set of photos from Kourou!

The loading process for ATV Albert Einstein has begun at the Guiana Space Centre. During January 2013, the big M1 cargo bags are being loaded into ATV as part of nominal cargo loading. A second opportunity for cargo loading comes towards the end of March, when ATV will already be vertical on top of the Ariane launcher.

Down2Earth with ATV: Space tech right here at home

A great tweet from our colleague Lionel Ferra at EAC on the topic of how ATV is also one of ESA's excellent Down2Earth examples! Thanks, Lionel!

ATV-4 under assembly at Kourou

Some nice 'live action' photos sent in by ESA's ATV-4 Mission Manager Alberto Novelli last week: ATV-4 is under assembly at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The ICC (Integrated Cargo Carrier) is undergoing leak testing and the spacecraft is receiving its solar wings!! (Click below for more photos in Flickr.)

ATV-4 during assembly

ATV-3 Orbital Photo Contest winners

It was a tough haul to assess, grade and rank the excellent ATV Orbital Photo Contest images submitted from around the world (that's why we're a bit late announcing the winners).

All were great for one or more reasons, and on behalf of ESA's entire ATV team, we'd like to publicly thank Don Thomas, Yujiro Suzuki, Taichi Iwamoto, Meire Ruiz, Patrick Faucon and Marco Langbroek for their great work.

Without further ado, it's my pleasure to announce the top three winners!

1st place - Many ATVs seen in orbit - Don Thomas, UK

ATV-3 en route to the ISS: Space Moths - stacked montage. Credit/Copyright: Don Thomas - Used by permission

ATV-3 en route to the ISS: Space Moths - stacked montage. Credit/Copyright: Don Thomas - Used by permission

2nd place - ATV-3 seen against deep blue dawn sky - Yujiro Suzuki, JP

ATV-3 & ISS seen in orbit 2 October 2012 over Chiba, Japan. Credit/Copyright: Y. Suzuki

ATV-3 & ISS seen in orbit 2 October 2012 over Chiba, Japan. Credit/Copyright: Y. Suzuki

3rd place - Eddie seen from here - Marco Langbroek, NL 

ATV-3 seen in orbit above Leiden, NL, 30 Sep 2012, 06:47:22 CEST. Credit/Copyright: M. Langbroek. Used by permission

ATV-3 seen in orbit above Leiden, NL, 30 Sep 2012, 06:47:22 CEST. Credit/Copyright: M. Langbroek. Used by permission

Access the complete list of seven entries here.

We'll contact Don, Suzuki-san and Marco via email to arrange sending their prizes.

Top place wins a fabulous 1:125 ATV + ISS + Ariane model kit "Mission Jules Verne" produced the famous French model-making company Heller.

The kits were marketed starting in 2008 for the initial ATV-1 mission to the ISS. We've got just a few kits left over from our original stock and will be sending one out to Don in the UK.

Our 2nd & 3rd place winners will receive a selection of very cool ATV-branded items via post.

Thank you for following us here in the blog and for your continuing interest in Europe's ATV missions to the ISS.

Space moths: Many ATVs seen in orbit

Arguably one of the most interesting images of ATV we've ever received! Here is the final submission in the fabulous ATV Orbital Photo Contest, sent in by Don Thomas, Surrey, UK.

ATV-3 en route to the ISS: Space Moths - stacked montage. Credit/Copyright: Don Thomas - Used by permission

ATV-3 en route to the ISS: Space Moths - stacked montage. Credit/Copyright: Don Thomas - Used by permission

Don wrote:

I was really interested when I read that there was going to be an imaging contest as I have been fascinated by the fact that men and women are actually living in space and orbiting around our planet. I still can't really believe it. I was fortunate enough to get some pictures of ATV-3 on its way to the ISS and the image is a stacked montage of these pictures, which I would like to enter in the contest. These were all taken with a DMK21 camera and a hand-guided C9.25 telescope. The caption I would give this picture is 'Space Moths' – I’m sure you can see why I think that is very appropriate. Good luck with ATV-4 – I’ll have my camera ready again!
 
Regards
-- Don Thomas

Seen from ISS: ATV-3 disappears in smoke and dust

A stunning, first-ever photo showing smoke and dust from the burn up of an ATV – evidence of the fiery plunge through Earth’s atmosphere and the destructive re-entry of Edoardo Amaldi. This image was taken by Expedition 33 crew members aboard the International Space Station on 3 October 2012.

3 Oct 2012 --- This still photo taken by the Expedition 33 crew members aboard the International Space Station shows evidence of the fiery plunge through Earth’s atmosphere and the destructive re-entry of the European Automated Transfer Vehicle-3 (ATV-3) spacecraft, also known as “Edoardo Amaldi.” Credit: NASA

3 Oct 2012 --- This still photo taken by the Expedition 33 crew members aboard the International Space Station shows evidence of the fiery plunge through Earth’s atmosphere and the destructive re-entry of the European Automated Transfer Vehicle-3 (ATV-3) spacecraft, also known as “Edoardo Amaldi.” Credit: NASA