Adam Williams on camera with Human spaceflight editor Jari Makinen

Adam Williams on camera with Human spaceflight editor Jari Makinen

ESA’s Adam Williams, now sitting on console in the Mission Director’s chair at ATV-CC Toulouse, has sent in a detailed update on today’s rehearsal activities (we had mailed them some questions a bit earlier). Thanks, Adam, for taking time to reply!

Who is sitting on console today?
At ATV-CC, from the ESA Operations Management Team (OMT), Jean-Christophe Ronnet, Jean-Michel Bois and myself are on-console at various times during the day (and night!).

The Vehicle Engineering Team were also on-console during the early part of the rehearsal, for the transfer of the first on-board mission plan (OMP), which is used by ATV when it separates from Ariane. Also supporting the entire rehearsal in ATV-CC are the Ground Control Team, and several other OMT specialists are involved.

What sort of information will you monitor?
We monitor data provided by the Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) at Kourou, which is connected to ATV-2 by cable. We also check communication links with the international partners (NASA and Roscosmos).

ATV-CC during a launch simulation in January 2011
Launch and LEOP simulation

What active role do you play in the Repetition (same as for real launch, I assume?)
We follow the same activities as will take place during the countdown for the real launch. In particular, this includes confirmation that ATV-CC is ready for launch. There are several such checks. The first is five and a half hours before launch, then four hours before launch, thirty minutes before launch, and finally at ten minutes before launch, three minutes before the start of the Ariane automated launch sequence.

Do you see live telemetry from ATV?
Yes, we can see live telemetry via the EGSE.

Anything special/critical about today’s rehearsal?
It is important that the rehearsal runs smoothly, and that we get confirmation that all our systems are working properly. Most importantly, by the end of the rehearsal we will know that we are ready for the launch next week.

How does it feel to be less than a week from lift-off?
It is exciting to be this close to launch. Not surprisingly, this is coupled with some nervousness, as we approach probably the most critical phase of the mission – getting into orbit!