|
|
|
| « ESA « Back to Index | |
 | |
| N° 23-1996: ESA successfully tests its ATV rendezvous and docking technology on STS-80 9 December 1996 The European Space Agency (ESA) took advantage of NASA's recent Space Shuttle flight, STS-80 which ended on 7 December, to test elements of the automated rendezvous and docking system that it is developing for the International Space Station. The system will be used when ESA's Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), which will ferry supplies to the Station and periodically 'reboost' the Station into a higher orbit, performs its rendezvous and docking with the Station. The ATV is one of the main elements that ESA is developing as part of its participation in the International Space Station. It is scheduled to be launched for the first time by Ariane 5 in March 2002. All of the technologies and concepts used for the ATV many of them new and leading-edge - must be demonstrated and validated before they are implemented. ESA's precursor project, called the ATV Rendezvous Pre development (ARP), focusses on the key technologies and equipment used in the rendezvous. During STS-80, ESA verified its absolute and relative navigation systems which are based on Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. An ESA-developed GPS receiver had been installed on the German ORFEUS SPAS satellite that was deployed by the Shuttle crew at the start of the mission. GPS data was used to determine the satellite's precise location with respect to the Shuttle. GPS data was collected at three times: during the deployment of the satellite, during its free flight, and again when it was retrieved. All three activity periods were successful and large amounts of valuable data were collected. Those measurements will be compared to data gathered simultaneously by NASA's GPS receiver on the Shuttle and the Trajectory Control Sensor (TCS) in order to validate the prototype ATV relative navigation design. It was the first flight demonstration in a series of three. The second and third will take place during two Shuttle to-Mir docking missions, STS-84 in May 1997 and STS 86 in September 1997 respectively. Matra Marconi Space (F) holds the overall responsibility for the ARP core activities, while Daimler Benz Aerospace (D) is in charge of the implementation and execution of the ARP flight demonstrations. Laben (I) developed and supplied the GPS receiver.
For further information, please contact : |
|