• → European Space Agency

      • Space for Europe
      • Space News
      • Space in Images
      • Space in Videos
    • About Us

      • Welcome to ESA
      • DG's news and views
      • For Member State Delegations
      • Business with ESA
      • Law at ESA
      • ESA Exhibitions
      • ESA Publications
      • Careers at ESA
      • ESAshop
    • Our Activities

      • Space News
      • Observing the Earth
      • Human Spaceflight
      • Space Transportation
      • Navigation
      • Space Science
      • Space Engineering & Technology
      • Operations
      • Telecommunications & Integrated Applications
      • Preparing for the Future
    • Careers at ESA

    • For Media

      • Media
      • ESA TV
      • Videos for professionals
      • Photos
    • For Educators

    • For Kids

    • ESA

    • Human Spaceflight

    • Astronauts

    • International Space Station

    • Research

    • Education

    • Our vision
    • About human spaceflight
    • Current missions
    • Orion service module
    • Concordia
    • Past missions

      • Vita mission
      • Proxima
      • Principia
      • iriss
      • Futura
      • Blue Dot
      • Volare
      • PromISSe
      • Mars500
      • MagISStra
      • DAMA mission
      • Node-3 & Cupola
      • Expert
      • Alissé
      • OasISS
      • Columbus
      • Esperia
      • Celsius
      • Astrolab
      • Eneide
      • DELTA
      • Cervantes
      • Odissea
      • Marco Polo
      • Andromède
      • STS-100
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Multimedia gallery
    • Resources
    • Experiment archive

    ESA > Our Activities > Human Spaceflight

    ATV Johannes Kepler gears up for space journey

    28 September 2010

    Step by step, ESA’s latest Automated Transfer Vehicle space ferry is being taken through all the tests to prepare for launch early next year from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. So far, all systems are 'go'.

    The heaviest and most complex space vehicle ever developed in Europe is being prepared for its next supply mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

    ATV-2, named after the German astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler, is undergoing its last checkouts. While two thirds of the ESA and NASA dry cargo is already loaded, the final flight software will be loaded into the onboard computer.

    The teams at the ATV Control Centre in Toulouse, France, are verifying the data transmission and the commands to handle the mission in orbit.

    By the end of the month, the service module, containing the propulsion and control systems, will be mated with the pressurised cargo carrier. With the solar wings folded against its body, this will give ATV-2 its final shape.

    Express delivery service

    ATV attached to ISS

    The launch date depends on the availability of the Ariane 5 launcher and on the other traffic to and from the ISS.

    Once the date is decided, ATV’s propellants will begin loading some two months before liftoff. Final cargo items can be added shortly before launch while ATV is mounted on its Ariane 5.

    "For the first time, we will use a cargo access device for last-minute items. This operation confirms its role as a critical resupply tool for the Space Station partners," explains Nico Dettmann, ESA’s ATV programme manager.

    ATV-2 can carry more to the Space Station than Jules Verne, the first ATV, launched in 2008. Several upgrades permit Johannes Kepler to ferry a full propellant load of almost 5 tonnes to the Station.


    The European push

    Johannes Kepler in the processing facility

    Simonetta Di Pippo, ESA Director of Human Spaceflight, emphasises the common effort made by dozens of companies and thousands of people all over Europe to get everything ready.

    "We count on a highly skilled workforce that represents a great asset to the European aerospace industry," says Mrs Di Pippo.

    "ESA and industry teams have been working together deploying a great effort to ensure ATV-2 is ready in time. I am proud today to see that the objective is achieved.

    "When the US Space Shuttle retires, ATV will be the largest vehicle supplying the ISS. The unique technologies developed for the ATV are something we can build on for the future."

    Servicing the ISS

    Jules Verne ATV after undocking
    Jules Verne undocking from the ISS.

    The mission confirms Europe’s capabilities in space transportation. With its own control and propulsion systems, ATV can navigate and rendezvous autonomously.

    At the Station, ATV will provide storage space and help in adjusting the orbit, performing regular orbit reboosts and avoiding space debris.

    ATV was developed and is built under ESA contract by a European industrial consortium led by EADS Astrium.

    Rate this

    Views

    Share

    • Currently 0 out of 5 Stars.
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
    Rating: 0/5 (0 votes cast)

    Thank you for rating!

    You have already rated this page, you can only rate it once!

    Your rating has been changed, thanks for rating!

    294
    Tweet
    • Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)
    • ATV-2 Johannes Kepler mission logo
      ATV-2 Johannes Kepler mission logo
      ATV-2 Mission logo
    • Related articles
      • Second ATV named after Johannes Kepler
        • ATV Johannes Kepler cargo section arrives in Bremen
          • Second ATV heading to Kourou for launch
          • Related links
            • International Space Station
            • EADS Astrium
    • App Store
    • Subscribe
    • mobile version
    • LATEST ARTICLES
    • · Walking on the Moon – underwater
    • · Storm hunter in position
    • · Mars impact crater or supervolcano?
    • · Top tomatoes thanks to Mars missio…
    • · Mars Express v2.0
    • FAQ

    • Site Map

    • Contacts

    • Terms and conditions