ATV Hatch - seen in the ATV mockup at ESA's EAC, Cologne

ATV Hatch – seen in the ATV mockup at ESA’s EAC, Cologne

Brief update from ESA’s Mike Steinkopf at ATV-CC a few moments ago:

Today, the ATV hatch was opened again. Crew had to preform the ATV-to-Service Module (SM) interface leak check and repressurization.

Then, they first opened the SM hatch (on the ISS side) followed by opening of the ATV Hatch. This activity finished the ‘mid-mission isolation’, which began on Sunday by hatch closing as standard procedure for Monday’s EVA (see our earlier posts below for details).

ATV is again open for further crew utilisation!

Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko completed the first spacewalk of the Expedition 32 mission at 23:28 CEST, Monday, 20 August. Credit: NASA

Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko completed the first spacewalk of the Expedition 32 mission at 23:28 CEST, Monday, 20 August. Credit: NASA