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ATV
Automated
Transfer
Vehicle |
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MISSION
PROFILE |
| Launch
Phase |
| The
ATV is launched by an Ariane 5 Evolution version, without
the upper storable propellant stage, allowing injection of
20,500 kg into a 300 km x 300 km, 51.60° orbit |
| At
separation from the launcher, Ariane 5 delivers an
activation order to initialize onboard navigation. At the
first apogee the ATV raises perigee to 400 km to stabilize
the orbit |
| The
ATV deploys its solar arrays and brings itself to the
altitude of the International Space Station (350-460 km) |
| About
90 min before the ATV enters the approach ellipsoid,
integrated operations begin and mission authority is
transferred to the Mission Control Center in Houston or in
Moscow |
| Beginning
30 km from the Station, the ATV performs final approach and
docking maneuvers automatically over a period of 5 h, with
either automatic or manual capability from the Space Station
crew to trigger a collision avoidance maneuver should any
problem occur at ATV or Station level |
| Upon
detection of the first contact between the ATV docking
system and the Station, the ATV thrusts to ensure its
capture and then triggers the automatic sequence of docking
operations to the aft port of the Russian Service Module |
| Station
Visit Phase (up to 6 months) |
| The
ATV is attached to the station by a pressurized passageway,
through wich cargo can be manually unloaded by the crew.
Station refueling operations are powered and controlled by
the space station. |
| The
ATV is reactivated during the attitude control and reboost
operations. These operations can employ either the main
propulsion system (four 490 N thrusters) or the attitude
control system (twenty 220 N thrusters). |
| Departure |
| The
ATV can carry up to 5500 kg of waste, which is burned up
during an autmatic reentry into Earth's atmosphere |
