The crucial SVT for ATV-5 will take place next week, 3 September, and teams at Astrium (Bremen), ESTEC, Redu station, ATV-CC Toulouse and NASA have been working hard to prepare for the Big Test. In the SVT, ATV-5, located on a test bed at Bremen, will be connected to the mission control system at ATV-CC for the first time via the actual satellite links (NASA’s TDRS and ESA’s Artemis relay satellites) that it will use when in space. We’ll post a full update early next week.

ATV-5 seen during integration at Astrium, Bremen, 8 August 2013 Credit: Astrium//Ingo Wagner

ATV-5 seen during integration at Astrium, Bremen, 8 August 2013 Credit: Astrium//Ingo Wagner