Category Archives: ISS Partners

Start of operations for ATV-4

The start of operations are not only visible to everyone at ATV-CC, but are also audible. The control centre has welcomed teams from the international ISS partners!

ATV-CC is ready. Credits : CNES/S.Girard, 2013

ATV-CC is ready. Credits : CNES/S.Girard, 2013

The first operational simulations were held at the start of last week and included ESA, NASA, Roscosmos and the industrial teams. In the corridors, German, English, French and Russian were heard each day; of course, English is the formal working language. At the first briefing, teams from ESA and CNES laid out the initial mission plan for ATV-4. This is a detailed and precise roadmap that provides the exact chronological sequence for all activities at ATV-CC until 15 June – the planned docking day.

Via the CNES ATV blog

Editor's note: As of this AM, the Joint International Simulation resulted in ATV-CC being declared ready for launch.

The making of ATV-4

Before Europe's advanced space transporter is ready for launch on its voyage to the International Space Station, the components that make up ATV Albert Einstein have traveled quite some kilometers over sea, land and air: 

 

ATV in BAF; ATV team in intense training

Update sent in earlier today from ESA's Charlotte Beskow, now in ATV-CC Toulouse – Ed.

Early May in Europe is a time with many 'holidays'. These vary from country to country, which makes for some tricky planning when you are working on a Pan-European project.

In addition it gives a false sense of having plenty of time, whereas in reality things are moving towards launch at a fast pace! Here is a short summary of where we stand since 7 May.

7 May - ATV into the container used to transport it to BAF

ATV-4 being moved into the container (CCU3) used to transport it to BAF at Kourou on 7 May 2013. Credit: ESA/C. Beskow

ATV-4 being moved into the container (CCU3) used to transport it to BAF at Kourou on 7 May 2013. Credit: ESA/C. Beskow

Transfer of ATV-4 to the 'Batiment Assemblage Finale' (BAF) by special truck in the early hours of the morning.

Later this day: RSCE General Designer Review concludes that ISS is ready to receive ATV-4.

8 May - ORB & Lifting ATV

The ESA Operations Readiness Board concludes that ATV-4 is ready to be launched (pending some normal 'open' work items). ATV Einstein is hoisted up the "chimney" in the BAF and installed on top of Ariane 5.

13 May - Go for late cargo loading

Meeting to give the OK for the final so-called 'late' cargo loading. This is done by opening the ATV hatch and having an operator descend into ATV using a specially built elevator.

Late cargo loading: The operator stands on the platform inside the ring Credit: ESA/C. Beskow

Late cargo loading: The operator stands on the platform inside the ring Credit: ESA/C. Beskow

The picture shows the required structure during preparation (easier to see how impressive it is!). The operator stands on the platform inside the ring, and then the elevator descends into the fully packed ATV.

Late cargo loading: The elevator then descends into the fully packed ATV. Credit: ESA/C. Beskow

Late cargo loading: The elevator then descends into the fully packed ATV. Credit: ESA/C. Beskow

Cargo loading is planned for Tue and Wed, 14 and 15 May.

In Toulouse, we hold the Test Readiness Review for the final simulations.

Wednesday is a test (JIS - Joint International Simulation – Ed.) with ATV-CC in Toulouse, the Engineering Support Team (EST) from the ATV project office at ESTEC, Moscow and Houston. All are connected via the operational communication links (via ESA's Columbus Control Center in Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich) and all teams and engineers will be on console using their final procedures for rendezvous and docking.

Thursday is the final simulation of the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP); we take the opportunity to advance on whatever open issues remain.

In parallel to all this the NASA Stage Operations Readiness Review (SORR) concludes that ATV is ready to be launched.

The Certificate of Flight Readiness is issued: things are really moving fast!

14 May – EST arrives at ATV-CC

Engineering Support Team members arrive in Toulouse at the Control Center and are given a final briefing before the JIS simulation. This is their last chance to prepare in-situ for the flight.

For most of us, it is also the first simulation where the sim team do not inundate us with failures... so all in all it should be a good couple of days allowing us to get into the right, serene, frame of mind for the launch. In Kourou, the first part of late cargo loading is done.

15 May – JIS starts

Teams are on console at 06:45 and the sim starts at 07:30. As usual, it is impossible to know what time it is. Your body and watch tell you one thing, the wall clock, something completely different. Not only are all operations done on GMT (i.e. two hours different from local CEST) but we are simulating the real flight. Therefore, it is '26 June and about 07:00'. Of course, this is just a simulation date and does not mean that we dock on 26 June (we don't).

So, time for me to go upstairs and join my team in the control room!

– Charlotte

Brilliant! Station Commander Chris Hadfield’s final day in orbit

This item not directly related to ATV, but we couldn't help but share this brilliant video by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield. Everyone here at the ATV blog wishes Chris a safe journey home!

A revised version of David Bowie's Space Oddity, recorded by Commander Chris Hadfield on board the International Space Station.

With thanks to Emm Gryner, Joe Corcoran, Andrew Tidby and Evan Hadfield for all their hard work.

Into space with ATV – Back to Earth with Dragon

L'apprenti sage DVD

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

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

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

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

Certificate presented to Elbeuf MJC and the DVD Team

More details (in French) via here and here.

 

Mission quiz: Answer 3 – Which crew members will oversee ATV-4 docking?

Here's the correct answer to the 3rd question in our Mission Quiz ("Name the two crew members who will oversee ATV-4 docking from inside the ISS") courtesy of ESA's Lionel Ferra at EAC/Cologne.

Lionel is a regular source for the ATV blog; he works with the ESA and international partner astronauts in Cologne training them on ATV operations.

Expedition 36 crew members Credit: NASA

Expedition 36 crew members take a break from training at NASA's Johnson Space Center to pose for a crew portrait. Pictured on the front row are Russian cosmonauts Pavel Vinogradov (left), commander; and Fyodor Yurchikhin, flight engineer. Pictured from the left (back row) are Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, all flight engineers. Photo credit: NASA

 

 

(more...)

For ATV-4: Things are progressing well

ATV 4 launch 5 June 2013: L - 1 month

ATV transfer to BAF: 6 May (postponed to Tuesday, 7 May)

Note: The latest update from Charlotte Beskow's mission diary from ESTEC and Kourou – Ed.

11-12 April - Thursday-Friday - Kourou-Paris-Toulouse

Time flies... I left French Guiana on 11 April just as the final step of fuelling the Russian tanks got under way. If felt a bit like leaving a race mid way. You stop and everyone else keeps running, cheerily waving as they speed by.

Rain clouds gathering over French Guyana as we lift off Credit: ESA/C. Beskow

Rain clouds gathering over French Guyana as we lift off Credit: ESA/C. Beskow

I headed back to Europe and to ATV-CC, Toulouse, where a multi-day simulation was scheduled for the following week. Like many of my colleagues, I have multiple roles. One role is to manage the day-to-day business of the launch campaign in Kourou, while another is to set up the Engineering Support Team (EST) in ATV-CC.

Upon arrival in a chilly, but sunny, Europe on Friday morning, I headed for the office in Toulouse where a Joint Control Board meeting was taking place. These serve to iron out the multitude of interface issues between what we call the ground segment, that is:

  • The ATV Control Centre and all the communications infrastructure across the US and Europe and up to the ISS
  • The flight control team (who operate the ATV once it is in orbit)

and the flight segment (who produce, assemble and launch the ATV). We hold these boards on a regular basis and people participate in person or via telephone depending on where they are.

(more...)

Europe’s ATV-4 prepares for launch amid contributions to future exploration

Editor's note: There's a great update today over at NASASpaceflight.com on our favourite cargo vessel, Albert Einstein. Pete Harding's done a great job reviewing the current state of launch preparations, and his article includes some insider gen from the ATV team at ESA. Well worth reading the entire update!

ATV-3 docking seen from ISS Credit: NASA

ATV-3 docking seen from ISS Credit: NASA

Europe’s latest space freighter, the Automated Transfer Vehicle-4 (ATV-4), is currently undergoing preparations for a realigned launch date following the replacement of a faulty unit inside the spacecraft. While the primary mission of ATV-4 will be to deliver a large load of cargo and propellants to the International Space Station, it will also help to contribute vital knowledge to the design effort for Orion’s Service Module.

Access full article via NASASpaceflight.com

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

REPLAY: ATV laser radar reflector to be replaced during today’s EVA

Today, Expedition 35 spacewalkers Vinogradov & Romanenko will deploy/retrieve scientific experiments and install a replacement navigation aid – the LRR – for ATV-4. Replacement of the LRR is set to happen between 18:00-18:30 CEST.

The Laser Radar Reflector target is used by ATV during the last part of Rendezvous operations. Previous investigations concluded that the current LRR should be replaced as it is likely contaminated.)

Watch live below. Details via NASA.

(UPDATE 20.04: You can review the complete replay of the EVA below via the archive in NASA's uStream channel. The LRR replacement takes place at around the 1:30:00 point in this video).


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