Jules Verne ATV

During the free-flight phase, some shell heaters were more active than anticipated, but because the thermal and power situation remained acceptable, this did not affect the mission. Visual inspection from the space station later confirmed that some thermal blankets had partially detached.[10] Air trapped under the blankets during launch rapidly expanded as the ATV's altitude increased; more holes were added to future craft to fix this problem.

On-orbit testing and docking

Because Jules Verne was the first ATV, several on-orbit demonstration tests were performed in order to confirm that it was able to safely approach and dock with the ISS. After launch, the ATV spent three weeks in free flight. It successfully underwent Collision Avoidance Manoeuvre (CAM) tests on 13 March and 14 March, ensuring that the CAM could be conducted as a last back-off mechanism should all other systems fail during the docking manoeuvre.^[11]

Subsequently, the ATV performed two docking demonstration tests called "demo days". These tests consisted of a series of

Demo-Day 1 – 29 March 2008

During Demo-Day 1, the ATV's first rendezvous with the ISS was conducted. The manoeuvre culminated in a successful rendezvous with the space station at a distance of 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi), despite a minor anomaly with the electronic systems controlling the spacecraft's engines.^[13]

Jules Verne started its approach to the ISS at 14:19 UTC. At 15:57, it reached the S₂ hold point and waited there for 90 minutes to conduct tests. The ISS crew then commanded the ATV to conduct hold and retreat manoeuvres. At 17:30, the ATV was commanded to perform an escape manoeuvre, propelling it away from the station.^[13]

Demo-Day 2 – 31 March 2008

During Demo-Day 2, Jules Verne closed in to within 12 metres (39 ft) of the International Space Station, after which the ISS crew simulated an abort. All targets for this Demo-Day were successfully met.^[14][15]

Docking – 3 April 2008

The ATV made contact with Zvezda's aft docking port at 14:45:32 UTC,^[16] starting a sequence of docking events that included mechanical capture and docking with the ISS a few minutes later at 14:52 UTC.^[17]

Docked operations

After docking and leak checks were conducted, the ISS crew was able to enter the pressurised cargo module and access the ATV's cargo. Jules Verne's liquid tanks were connected to the ISS, and their contents were transferred to the station. The crew manually released air components directly into the ISS's atmosphere. The ISS crew gradually replaced the ATV's cargo with waste for disposal.^[18] In total, 270 kilograms (600 lb) of water, 21 kilograms (46 lb) of oxygen and 856 kilograms (1,887 lb) of propellant was transferred to the Zvezda module,^[17] and Jules Verne was also used to reboost the space station on four occasions. About 1,150 kilograms (2,540 lb) of dry cargo was removed from the ATV and remained aboard the ISS.^[17] In addition, two original manuscripts by Jules Verne, as well as an illustrated French edition of Pierre-Jules Hetzel's From the Earth to the Moon and Around the Moon, were delivered to the crew of the ISS by the ATV.^[1]

The thrusters of Jules Verne were fired for just over 5 minutes on 27 August 2008 at 16:11 UTC to conduct a debris avoidance manoeuvre. By slowing the station by approximately 1 m/s (3 ft/s), the altitude of the station was lowered by approximately 1.77 km (1.10 mi).^[19] This manoeuvre effectively eliminated any chance of a collision with a piece of space debris which had been part of the Kosmos 2421 satellite.

At the time of its docking, the

The ATV was one of the quietest places on the ISS, as it was isolated from the rest of the station. Because of this, the crew used it as sleeping quarters, and also as a place to perform personal hygiene activities.[20] Yi So-yeon also used it as laboratory space where she performed nanotechnology experiments.^[21]

End of mission

On 5 September 2008, Jules Verne undocked and maneuvered to an orbital position 5 km below the ISS. It remained in that orbit until the night of 29 September.

• 
  Jules Verne re-enters the Earth's atmosphere southwest of Tahiti.
• Behind the scenes of the ATV re-entry observation team.

ATV missions

See also

Wikinews has related news:

• Ariane 5 rocket launches first Automated Transfer Vehicle

• H-II Transfer Vehicle
• Progress spacecraft
• Uncrewed spaceflights to the International Space Station

References

• John Ellwood; Heinz Wartenberg; Jean-François Clervoy; Frederic Castel; Alberto Novelli; Hervé Come (November 2008). "Jule Verne's journey from Earth to ISS" (PDF). ESA Bulletin. No. 136. European Space Agency. Retrieved 5 November 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jules Verne (spacecraft).

• ESA – ATV
• ATV Jules Verne reentry video via Space.com