The joint ESA/CNES mission operations team at ATV-CC are undergoing the final joint simulation before launch today. The ‘joint’ refers to the presence of the NASA and Roscosmos partner representatives at ATV-CC, who sit in the main control room working, literally, elbow-to-elbow with the European mission control engineers.

ATV-3 launch is set for Friday, 9 March 2012.

Last joint simulation at ATV-CC for ATV-3 launch. © CNES/Frédéric Maligne, 2012

Last joint simulation at ATV-CC for ATV-3 launch. © CNES/Frédéric Maligne, 2012