Preparing ATV-3 for encapsulation

ESA, EADS industry and Arianespace teams are working today in Kourou to prepare ATV-3 for encapsulation – the lowering of the huge Ariane 5 aerodynamic fairing over top of Edoardo Amaldi.

These photos were just mailed in by ESA’s Olivier Schmeitzky, and show the crucial external contamination checking that is being done prior to lowering the fairing.

Scroll down to the previous post to read an account of the vital, ‘behind-the-scene’ work done by Olivier and Mei Mei on the ‘ATV Toxicity Team’.

And post questions! We’ll pass your queries along to the experts in Kourou! – Ed.

Inspection of ATV-3 optics for cleanliness before fairing mating Credit: ESA/O. Schmeitzky

Removal of protection cover from ATV-3 optics Credit: ESA/O. Schmeitzky

Cleanliness inspection of the Ariane 5 fairing before mating to ATV Credit: ESA/O. Schmeitzky