Val de Reuil, 10th November 2006. The Astrium-developed and built ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle), for the European Space Agency (ESA) is the largest spacecraft ever built in Europe. It will carry supplies including dry cargo, fuel, water and gas to the International Space Station (ISS) and contribute to the ISS reboost and attitude control capability. The first flight model, named ‘Jules Verne’, is currently undergoing final integration and space environmental tests at ESTEC in the Netherlands.
As the safety of the crew and the station is the number one priority when automatically docking to the ISS, ATV’s navigation systems, rendezvous and docking technologies and software are simultaneous being qualified in a series of tests on various test facilities. Of significant importance are the tests performed at Bassin d’essai des Carènes, an exceptional facility at Val de Reuil, 100 km west of Paris, which belongs to the French Defence procurement agency, DGA. One important test is the validation of bilateral interfaces between the ATV vehicle itself and the Russian side of the International Space Station.
During these tests, a set of ATV optical sensors (videometers from Sodern and telegoniometers) identical to those on the flight model are installed on a robotic arm to represent the dynamic and functional behaviour of the overall rendezvous system. At the other end of the facility is a 120-ton mobile platform with a full-scale mock-up of the aft port of the space station module to which the ATV will dock. The mock-up is equipped with the passive retro-reflectors used by the optical sensors on the ATV.
Calculating distances and angles, the system (using the latest versions of the ATV flight software) faithfully replicates in real time the final approach sequence, guiding the vehicle precisely to its docking port. The three-dimensional simulations of the relative rotation and lateral motion between the two vehicles, which will be circling the Earth at 28.000 kmh, are also conducted in simulated conditions of solar illumination.
During the flight, the ATV’s onboard systems are permanently monitored by the ATV Control Centre in Toulouse (France), in close collaboration with the ISS Mission Control Centres in Moscow (Russia) and Houston (USA). As a last resort the astronauts on board the station will have the ability to stop an abnormal approach.
“We are working for real - where the objective is to mimic in real time the approach sequence from 280 metres right up to the point of docking. The tests are contributing directly to the qualification of the system using real equipment and real flight sensors that will actually fly on the ATV Jules Verne next year. Likewise on the space station side, we are using real target sensors, and a real docking port.” said Nicolas Chamussy, Astrium ’s ATV programme Director.
Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems. In 2005, Astrium had a turnover of €2.7 billion and 11,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. It has two main business units: Astrium Space Transportation, for launchers and orbital infrastructure, and Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Astrium Services, develops and delivers satellite services.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2005, EADS generated revenues of €34.2 billion and employed a workforce of more than 113,000.
Contacts for the media:
Astrium, Rémi Roland +33 (0) 1 42 24 27 34
Astrium, Frédéric-Pierre Isoz +33 (0) 1 42 24 28 77
