ATV launch events - Darmstadt

ATV launch events - Darmstadt

As the newly added count-down clock in our ATV blog indicates (see top-right), the ATV liftoff is just a week away!

We’re starting to get more details on ATV-related launch events here and there. First off, there will be an excellent late-night programme on 15 February in Darmstadt, Germany sponsored by ESA, the Central Station venue and hr-iNFO.

The ‘Long Night of Spaceflight‘ will combine a celebration of the end of the Shuttle era with astronaut Dr Ulf Merbold (Shuttle STS-9 – the first West German in space) and a live, moderated transmission of the ATV launch, scheduled for 23:13 CET. The event will be held in German, but is open to everyone (details via the ESA web portal).

ATV Mission Director Kris Capelle (blue shirt)

ATV Mission Director Kris Capelle (blue shirt)

Tomorrow, 9 February, there is an in-depth media briefing (in English) at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. ESA’s ATV Mission Director Kris Capelle and two ESA astronauts – Frank De Winner and Alexander Gerst – will be on hand. Members of the press (+ bloggers!) are welcome to attend. Contact Andreas Schepers or Jules Grandsire to confirm a seat – we heard late this evening it’s not too late to attend and there will be great interview opportunities (in EN, F, DE and NL).

Finally, the main European ATV launch event will be held in Bremen, Germany, on 15 February. Produced in cooperation between ESA, EADS Astrium and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), it will will begin at 17:00 and include visits to the ATV-3 and ATV-4 cleanrooms. It’s open to media, who must register via mail. More info in the ESA website here.

If you know of any other events or celebrations marking the launch or docking of ATV, contact us here at the ATV blog and we’ll post a link!