ATV: Jules Vernes ready to launch in second half of February

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7181390.stm

Europe's ATV space truck has been cleared for fuelling, to make it ready
for launch towards the end of February.

They can't confirm actual dates until NASA confirms the shuttle's launch
and landing dates.

Is the feeling that ATV is now really ready to go, or are there
expectations of more glitches found at the last minute that will delay
it another year ?

"John Doe" wrote in message
...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7181390.stm

Europe's ATV space truck has been cleared for fuelling, to make it ready
for launch towards the end of February.

They can't confirm actual dates until NASA confirms the shuttle's launch
and landing dates.

Is the feeling that ATV is now really ready to go, or are there
expectations of more glitches found at the last minute that will delay
it another year ?

It's the first flight of an all new spacecraft, so glitches would not be
unexpected. That said, I think that ESA has done their homework on this
project. Buying Russian rendezvous and docking hardware made things a bit
easier too. I'm hoping for the best for this mission. ATV will do a lot
for ISS resupply.

Jeff
--
A clever person solves a problem.
A wise person avoids it. -- Einstein

Well, looks like its going to be a busy February then, on the station if all
goes according to plan.
Anyone heard from Nasa if the faulty connector was still faulty when it was
tested outside the tank?

So with the progress very early feb, the Shuttle sort of a bit later, and
the ATV toward the end its going to be a little busy.

Gridlock in space?

Brian

--
Brian Gaff -
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
Blind user, so no pictures please!
"John Doe" wrote in message
...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7181390.stm

Europe's ATV space truck has been cleared for fuelling, to make it ready
for launch towards the end of February.

They can't confirm actual dates until NASA confirms the shuttle's launch
and landing dates.

Is the feeling that ATV is now really ready to go, or are there
expectations of more glitches found at the last minute that will delay
it another year ?

Buying Russian, does this mean all that clever stuff they had to install is
not redundant?

Brian

--
Brian Gaff -
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Jeff Findley" wrote in message
...

"John Doe" wrote in message
...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7181390.stm

Europe's ATV space truck has been cleared for fuelling, to make it ready
for launch towards the end of February.

They can't confirm actual dates until NASA confirms the shuttle's launch
and landing dates.

Is the feeling that ATV is now really ready to go, or are there
expectations of more glitches found at the last minute that will delay
it another year ?

It's the first flight of an all new spacecraft, so glitches would not be
unexpected. That said, I think that ESA has done their homework on this
project. Buying Russian rendezvous and docking hardware made things a bit
easier too. I'm hoping for the best for this mission. ATV will do a lot
for ISS resupply.

Jeff
--
A clever person solves a problem.
A wise person avoids it. -- Einstein

Brian Gaff wrote:
Buying Russian, does this mean all that clever stuff they had to install is
not redundant?

If the crew have to manually/remotely dock the ATV, it would make sense
that the ATV be equipped with compatible software so the crew can use
the same software on the station that they use should they need to
manually control a progress' docking.


And since this is the first flight, it would make sense to provide as
much redundancy as possible so that they can compare the commands sent
by ATV with those Kurs would be sending.

Actually, latest I got is a launch at the 22nd of february, at the earliest,
with a docking on the 15th of march.

Which brings into conflict with the planned docking for STS-123, AFAIK.

"Jeff Findley" a écrit dans le message de
news: ...

It's the first flight of an all new spacecraft, so glitches would not be
unexpected. That said, I think that ESA has done their homework on this
project. Buying Russian rendezvous and docking hardware made things a bit
easier too.

Yes for the mechanical part of the docking system.

The electronics ( and electrical part ) of the docking system are a
completely new system, even if devellopped by RSCE.

For the Rendezvous, the ATV system is totally new and developped in Europe.

The KURS is aboard the first ATV only, as a payload, to validate the
european system but has no role in the actualy guiding of the TAV during its
final approch.

"Brian Gaff" a écrit dans le message de news:
.. .
Buying Russian, does this mean all that clever stuff they had to install
is not redundant?


For the docking system, the electronics are brand new and develloped by the
Russians to European specifications, so everything is redundant, at least
once.

For the mechanical part, there is only one electrical motor which isn't
redundant, but all it's driving and command electronics are, all the other
parts are also redunded at least once.

"John Doe" a écrit dans le message de news:
...
Brian Gaff wrote:
Buying Russian, does this mean all that clever stuff they had to install
is
not redundant?

If the crew have to manually/remotely dock the ATV, it would make sense

There is no way to manually dock the ATV, as one can a Progress.

that the ATV be equipped with compatible software so the crew can use
the same software on the station that they use should they need to
manually control a progress' docking.


The command the crew has to send in case of contingency docking are not the
same for ATV as for Progress.

And since this is the first flight, it would make sense to provide as
much redundancy as possible so that they can compare the commands sent
by ATV with those Kurs would be sending.

This is only done on Ground, comparing the data given by the ATV actual RDV
systems with the one of the KURS

"Brian Gaff" a écrit dans le message de news:
.. .
Well, looks like its going to be a busy February then, on the station if
all goes according to plan.
Anyone heard from Nasa if the faulty connector was still faulty when it
was tested outside the tank?

So with the progress very early feb, the Shuttle sort of a bit later, and
the ATV toward the end its going to be a little busy.

Gridlock in space?



Possibly, but at mid march, not february.

ATV spends a lot of time between launch and docking, for demonstration of
capability.