ATV-3 seen from ground 25 March 2012 04:56UT Copyright/Credit: Ralf Vandebergh

ATV-3 seen from ground 25 March 2012 04:56UT Copyright/Credit: Ralf Vandebergh

Updated 28.09.12 16:20CEST

We told the keen astro-photographers out there (you know who you are!) about our fabulous ATV Orbital Photo Contest back in July.

For those keen to take part, we have a set of orbital position tables (TLEs) available (click on ‘More link’ below).

These TLEs provide you with the latest predicted orbital position of ATV once it undocks this evening and enters free flight.

We look forward to seeing any and all photos of ATV in free flight and we wish you happy snapping for the contest!

Photo contest : ATV3 Edoardo Amaldi Undocking trajectory

Be ready for the photo contest announced on 17 July (https://blogs.esa.int/atv/2012/07/17/atv-orbital-photo-contest/)! ATV-3 will undock from the International Space Station on 28 September around 23:46 CEST. Space amateurs and photographers who are interested in following its trajectory can use the Two Line Elements below (based on ATV-CC predictions):

# 2012/09/28 21:46:51.998 - Post separation
1 38096U 12010A   12272.90754627  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0009
2 38096 051.6487 325.9174 0016493 111.6661 335.4326 15.50184338 00009

# 2012/09/28 22:00:21.998 - Post Undocking maneuver
1 38096U 12010A   12272.91692127  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0006
2 38096 051.6487 325.8712 0006921 130.2075 009.5152 15.52554176 00006

# 2012/09/29 00:00:21.998
1 38096U 12010A   12273.00025461  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0008
2 38096 051.6492 325.4566 0006657 130.3768 115.6015 15.52602823 00001

# 2012/09/29 06:00:21.998
1 38096U 12010A   12273.25025461  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0005
2 38096 051.6468 324.2075 0007130 133.3328 071.0073 15.52610345 00005

# 2012/09/29 12:00:21.998
1 38096U 12010A   12273.50025461  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0003
2 38096 051.6483 322.9676 0006912 133.0787 029.6429 15.52615473 00008

# 2012/09/29 18:00:21.998
1 38096U 12010A   12273.75025461  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0000
2 38096 051.6466 321.7246 0006820 132.9551 348.1321 15.52605785 00009

# 2012/09/30 00:00:21.998
1 38096U 12010A   12274.00025460  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0008
2 38096 051.6492 320.4824 0006738 134.4185 305.1438 15.52610820 00002

# 2012/09/30 06:00:21.998
1 38096U 12010A   12274.25025460  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0005
2 38096 051.6475 319.2336 0007230 138.4533 259.7146 15.52645967 00006

# 2012/09/30 12:00:21.998
1 38096U 12010A   12274.50025460  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0003
2 38096 051.6476 317.9937 0006891 136.0666 220.3689 15.52590806 00009

# 2012/09/30 18:00:21.998
1 38096U 12010A   12274.75025460  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0000
2 38096 051.6458 316.7506 0006839 136.9381 177.7355 15.52620655 00004

# 2012/10/01 00:00:21.998
1 38096U 12010A   12275.00025460  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0009
2 38096 051.6473 315.5072 0006745 138.3876 134.9062 15.52655541 00009

# 2012/10/01 06:00:21.998
1 38096U 12010A   12275.25025460  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0006
2 38096 051.6466 314.2595 0007261 141.7525 089.7451 15.52653422 00005

# 2012/10/01 12:00:21.998
1 38096U 12010A   12275.50025460  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0004
2 38096 051.6477 313.0192 0007042 140.3988 049.6964 15.52671410 00003

# 2012/10/01 18:00:21.997
1 38096U 12010A   12275.75025460  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0001
2 38096 051.6463 311.7760 0006900 140.9189 007.6455 15.52649527 00008

# 2012/10/02 00:00:21.997
1 38096U 12010A   12276.00025460  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0000
2 38096 051.6477 310.5333 0006705 143.4008 323.8737 15.52692984 00008

# 2012/10/02 06:00:21.997
1 38096U 12010A   12276.25025460  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0007
2 38096 051.6474 309.2847 0007293 146.4416 279.2501 15.52710459 00000

# 2012/10/02 12:00:21.997
1 38096U 12010A   12276.50025460  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0005
2 38096 051.6470 308.0444 0007116 142.3079 241.8162 15.52655071 00006

# 2012/10/02 18:00:21.997
1 38096U 12010A   12276.75025460  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0002
2 38096 051.6462 306.8013 0006890 144.9735 197.7391 15.52683086 00000

# 2012/10/02 21:58:21.997 
1 38096U 12010A   12276.91553238  .00000000  00000-0  18163-3 0  0009
2 38096 051.6487 305.9778 0145178 333.9474 213.9234 15.89625734 00001

The ATV currently flies attached to the ISS at an altitude of 415 kilometers on a near-circular orbit. During the night of 28 Sep, ATV Edoardo Amaldi will be first separated by a spring mechanism, and a few minutes later will be moved away thanks to a retrograde boost. ATV-3 will then drift on a ‘free-flight orbit’ at an altitude of 410 kms, until the first deorbit boost performed on 2 October.

Finally, ATV-3 will reenter after two deorbit manoeuvres that will reduce progressively the perigee altitude. The first boost will decrease the perigee altitude while maintaining the spacecraft on an orbit high enough to avoid its natural reentry. Thanks to a second deorbit boost, Edoardo Amaldi will safely burn up above the deserted South Pacific Ocean on 3 October.