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View Full Version : The Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle



hpcoolahan
April 1st, 2008, 06:25 PM
Quote from NASA home page
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/160328main_44-2008-03-31_113650.jpg
Image above: The Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle approaches the International Space Station. Credit: NASA TV

"The Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle approached the International Space Station on Monday for its "Demo Day 2" practice maneuvers. It moved to within 36 feet of the Zvezda Service Module in a rehearsal for docking on Thursday.

The Jules Verne reached its closest point to the station at 12:38 p.m. EDT, at which time it was commanded by the crew to retreat to a point 62 feet away. From there it executed an "escape" command to depart the station for its three-day phasing prior to final approach and docking around 10:41 a.m. Thursday.

During its first approach Saturday, the ATV fired its engines several times to bring it approximately two miles from the station. Once in position, the Jules Verne conducted thruster firings and other systems tests before it pulled back into a phasing orbit. "

This is absolutely amazing stuff, if only Jules Vern could see it.:pipethinker:
I was reading this article , and thought i would post it up for other people to read, and see the amazing things they now have availiable to support and resupply the International Space station.
And as an added bonus,,, it will take the trash out as well :woot: and burn it up on re-entry to the earth.

www.heavens-above.com is a brilliant source of info for tracking anything orbiting the earth and heres the link to see where the ATV is at the moment....have a look:wink: great site. I use it to see where the ISS is also.

http://heavens-above.com/orbitdisplay.asp?satid=32686&lat=0&lng=0&loc=Unspecified&alt=0&tz=CET

Hope this sheds some new light on this interesting developement for the International Space Station.
If anyone can contribute to this topic , please do, the more info we can find out the better.

I want to know if this is a big enough object to see in a telescope??????
Anyone???


Cheers
Patrick

gyro
April 1st, 2008, 07:40 PM
An excellent post Pat.
The ATV will also use it's engines to push the ISS to a higher orbit.

hpcoolahan
April 1st, 2008, 07:47 PM
Thanks Gyro,

I didnt know about it being a booster for the ISS,,, smart idea!!

Cheers
Patrick

Mick
April 1st, 2008, 08:04 PM
Don't think you would see much with a telescope Pat, would have to have the tracking spot on. I eye balled it on the 19-03 it was quite bright and fast. No passes for my location until docking, I posted this ESA link on another thread gives lots of info about the ATV.

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ATV/index.html

http://www.myastrospace.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1426

mattwastell
April 3rd, 2008, 06:26 PM
An image from a 30" scope - spaceweather.com
http://spaceweather.com/submissions/large_image_popup.php?image_name=Josef-Huber-Tobias-Lindemann-Klaus-Nagel-atv2008-03-28pre_1207151813.jpg

hpcoolahan
April 3rd, 2008, 06:45 PM
Great find there mate:woot:

I knew someone would image it,,,,,,,,,,hmm ,,, mental note...must get bigger scope:biggrin:

Cheers
Patrick

gyro
April 3rd, 2008, 07:34 PM
The Space Truck is due to dock with the ISS at 14-41 GMT today (thursday).

gyro
April 4th, 2008, 01:50 AM
Bulls eye....cool or what......:cool!:

hpcoolahan
April 4th, 2008, 04:41 AM
That really is amazing..
wish our garbage trucks where so gentle when they docked.......lol

Cheers
Patrick

gyro
April 6th, 2008, 02:21 AM
wish our garbage trucks where so gentle when they docked

You'r lucky Pat, not docking and the resulting mess is the problem here.

Tenacious Del
April 8th, 2008, 11:28 AM
wow! how cool..

CanisMajorTom
April 10th, 2008, 11:58 PM
how cool. i'm amazed that this stuff isn't in the public arena more.

Tom

gyro
April 11th, 2008, 09:05 PM
[QUOTE=CanisMajorTom;12247]how cool. i'm amazed that this stuff isn't in the public arena more.Tom[/QUOTE.

Online UK BBC coverage is extensive. And afore mentioned links will keep you up to date.

But if like me, where do you start each day in your favouites/bookmark liist. :hmm: :hmm:

gyro
June 23rd, 2008, 05:01 PM
Thanks Gyro,

I didnt know about it being a booster for the ISS,,, smart idea!!

Cheers
Patrick

The ISS just got a major shove from the ATV.

See Jonathons site......http://www.spaceinfo.com.au/atv20080624.html

hpcoolahan
June 23rd, 2008, 07:46 PM
Does the ISS orbit deteriate or is the boost a safety mesure??

Anyone know??

Cheers
Patrick

gyro
June 23rd, 2008, 09:11 PM
Does the ISS orbit deteriate or is the boost a safety mesure??

Anyone know??

Cheers
Patrick

The former, as explained in the previous link. :wink: :wink: :wink:
Not like you Pat to have a "senior moment" :biggrin:

Radar
June 23rd, 2008, 09:31 PM
This is interesting, because I had a time from Heaven's Above from the weekend which said the ISS would be passing over at 7.21 tonight, but Orbitron which updated today alerted me to the ISS at around 7.16, I went outside a minute later and saw the ISS moving into the Earth's shadow.

Heaven's Above is always pretty accurate, so I was wondering what was going on. Interesting to know that I've seen the effect of Space Station Acceleration.

Ray

hpcoolahan
June 24th, 2008, 04:38 AM
They are becoming more frequet lately the Gyro...lol

to much work , not enought sleep.

Cheers
Patrick