Tag Archives: ATV-3

Video: A message of thanks to the ATV-3 team

In March this year the third Automated Transfer Vehicle, ATV-3, also known as ATV Edoardo Amaldi, arrived at the International Space Station. ISS resident and ESA astronaut André Kuipers describes in this video how important the European-built ATV is to the programme and to the crew and sends a thank you message to all involved in bringing this "fantastic vehicle" to the Station.

Unpacking cargo from ATV-3

An interesting insight into crew and ground activities for unpacking cargo from the Automated Transfer Vehicle in this video from NASA TV. NASA Public Affairs Officer Dan Huot interviews Michael Ferullo, NASA's Lead Inventory and Stowage Officer for ATV-3. Transferring cargo to and from a docked resupply ship is a complex and time-consuming activity for ISS residents.

ISS orbit boosted by ATV Edoardo Amaldi

International Space Station

ATV Edoardo Amaldi has been used for the first time to boost the orbit of the International Space Station. On Saturday evening at 23:54 CEST (21:54 UT), the Automated Transfer Vehicle's thrusters were fired for 6 minutes and 51 seconds. ESA astronaut André Kuipers prepared the ISS for the burn by closing all hatches on the US segment.

The burn raised the ISS orbit by 1.73 km to a mean altitude of 389.7 km. The purpose of the burn was to test the ATV's reboost functionality, it also sets up the ISS for the departure of the Soyuz 28S later this month, as well as the arrival of the Progress 47P and Soyuz 30S spacecraft. ATV Edoardo Amaldi will be used later during the spacecraft's stay at the ISS to perform a series of larger planned reboosts and any Debris Avoidance Manoeuvres if and when these are needed.

Unpacking ATV Edoardo Amaldi

The International Space Station crew were set to work last Saturday unpacking some of the 2201 kg of dry cargo from the newly arrived Automated Transfer Vehicle. Taking the lead in this task is the so-called 'Loadmaster' - for ATV Edoardo Amaldi, this role falls to ESA astronaut André Kuipers. As ATV Loadmaster André is responsible for unpacking and stowing all cargo. He will spend a lot of time during the coming days in and around ATV to organise the new supplies.

He posted this picture on Twitter earlier today of himself at work inside the ATV - clearly illustrating one of the advantages of life in weightlessness.

"Fortunately it doesn't weight anything" (Credit: ESA/NASA)

ATV-3 arrives at ISS tonight

ATV-1 during approach to ISS (Credit: ESA/NASA)

A big day for the ISS Expedition 30 crew today as they await the delivery of new supplies with the arrival of ATV Edoardo Amaldi. The docking of the third European Automated Transfer Vehicle is scheduled for 00:33 CEST (22:33 UT).

ESA astronaut André Kuipers and his Russian crewmate Oleg Kononenko will monitor the cargo spacecraft from inside the Russian Zvezda module as the ATV manoeuvres towards the aft end of the ISS.

A full docking timeline is available in the ATV blog.

ATV Edoardo Amaldi carries into orbit some 4395 kg of fluid cargo, including fuel, water and gas, and 2201 kg of dry cargo including food, equipment, experiment hardware and personal items for the crew.

Follow the ATV-3 docking live on the ESA Portal, coverage starts at 00:00 CEST (10:00 UT).

ATV Edoardo Amaldi on way to resupply ISS

ESA’s ATV Edoardo Amaldi lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, today at 04:34 GMT (05:34 CET, 01:34 local) and is now heading towards the International Space Station.

The spacecraft will make a series of manoeuvres to rendezvous with the ISS on 28 March at the projected time of 22:34 GMT (00:34 CEST) where it will dock under its own control with Russia’s Zvezda module. ISS Expedition 30 crewmembers André Kuipers and Oleg Kononenko will monitor the approach and docking of the ATV from a special console inside the Zvezda module.

The Automated Transfer Vehicle, the most complex spacecraft ever produced in Europe, is now en route to deliver essential supplies to the orbital outpost. It will also reboost the Space Station’s orbit while it is attached for about five months.

Watch the replay:

embedded by Embedded Video

Image gallery ATV-3 launch:

ATV docking rehearsal on the ISS

Yesterday ESA astronaut André Kuipers and his Russian ISS Expedition 30 crewmate Oleg Kononenko rehearsed docking procedures for ATV-3 on board the International Space Station - André tweeted this photo of the two of them sat at the panel in the Russian Zvezda module from where they will monitor the approach and docking of ATV Edoardo Amaldi next week.

André and Oleg rehearse ATV docking procedures in the Zvezda module (Credit: ESA/NASA)

ISS crew prepares for ATV-3 arrival

Protective fairing is lowered over ATV-3

ESA astronaut André Kuipers and his Russian Expedition 30 crewmate Oleg Kononenko are currently participating in an on board drill in preparation for one of the major milestones of the PromISSe mission - the arrival of Automated Transfer Vehicle Edoardo Amaldi.

Europe's cargo spacecraft, ATV for short, is set to deliver new supplies to the International Space Station next week, including food, water, fuel and equipment.

The third spacecraft of it's type, ATV-3 was yesterday given the go-ahead for lift-off from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on Friday 23 May at 05:34 CET (04:34 UT). The ATV is set to dock with the ISS five days later.

ATV-2 during approach to the ISS in February 2011

Docking

André and Oleg will monitor the spacecraft as it approaches for docking early on Thursday 29 March (the exact docking time will be known after launch on Friday). Today's on board training drill for this activity is to ensure that they are fully prepared for this complex operation.

ATV's cargo

More about ATV Edoardo Amaldi's cargo:
- ATV blog: The Big ATV Cargo Post v3.0
- Astrium website: Rummaging in the ATV's cargo hold

Video: ATV-3 mission overview

The launch will be streamed live via the ESA Portal, coverage starts 30 minutes before the launch.