Jules Verne ATV Demonstration Day 2 sequence of events
Today, mission controllers at ESA's ATV Control Centre in Toulouse, France, will pace Jules Verne through a second day of crucial manoeuvres designed to demonstrate the vessel's navigation capabilities.
The second demonstration day will test ATV close proximity manoeuvring and control including testing contingency manoeuvres for the ATV Control Centre and the ISS crew. ATV will manoeuvre to within 11 metres of the docking port of the ISS Russian Service Module Zvezda. ATV will also navigate for the first time using a laser-based optical system.
Demonstration Day 2 ends with the ISS crew sending an ESCAPE command sending ATV away from the Station.
Data collected during Demonstration Day 2 will be made available to ISS managers for their go-ahead to proceed with a first docking attempt on Thursday. Jules Verne ATV is scheduled to dock with ISS at 16:41 CEST (14:41 UT) on 3 April.
Sequence of events
Note: all times subject to change
Time CEST Activity Distance to ISS14:26 Depart station point S-1/2 39 km15:12 Arrive at station point S1 15.5 km15:58 Arrive at station point S2 3.5 km17:10 Arrive at station point S3 249 m17.53 Retreat test17:55 Hold test17:59 Resume test18:13 Arrive at station point S4 19 m18:31 Arrive at station point S41 11 m18:34 Retreat from S41 11 m18:36 Arrive at station point S4 19 m18:38-18:45 Perform 'Escape' from S4
Today’s events will be streamed live on the ESA website (courtesy of NASA TV). The broadcast starts at 16:00 CEST (14:00 UT) and continues until 18:45 CEST (16:45 UT).