- Johannes Kepler Departure: Photo Credit – Astrium
Europe’s “Johannes Kepler” has made one small step toward the International Space Station. As the second Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), the huge cargo-carrying spacecraft is on its way to the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana for launch.
On behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA), the aerospace industrial partner, Astrium, is responsible for both the development and production of the ATV. The production of ATV units two to five – as well as mission preparation and operations support – is covered by the contract, which governs the operation and provision of the European components of the ISS.
Astrium is responsible for carrying out these activities on behalf of ESA.
Johannes Kepler is the first production unit, following on from the highly successful first flight of the “Jules Verne” ATV to the space station. The Johannes Kepler is slated for launch at the end of 2010.
Meanwhile, ATV 3 “Edoardo Amaldi” has reached the integration stage in Bremen. ATV 4 integration is set to start shortly and ATV 5 is entering the equipment manufacturing stage.
With the ATV, Europe provides its contribution to supply the International Space Station.
ATV-based Reusable Re-entry Vehicle
On a typical mission, the ATV carries water, fuel, food and scientific equipment to the ISS. Once its mission is over, the ATV is loaded with waste, undocked from the ISS and burns up during a controlled re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
The ATV is also responsible for regularly boosting the ISS to its operational orbit of around 400 km and performs maneuvers to avoid collisions with space debris.
As part of an ESA study, Astrium is conducting research into a reusable Advanced Re-entry Vehicle (ARV) based on ATV technology.
This on-going ARV work will examine the requirements placed on a system designed to transport freight to the International Space Station and back to Earth.
According to an Astrium press statement: “There are many good reasons for pursuing this line of development, given that there will only be limited capacity for bringing back materials from the space station to Earth once the Americans retire the Space Shuttles at the end of 2010. After that, the only available vehicle for transporting materials and crew to and from the ISS to Earth will be the Russian Soyuz capsule.”
By LD/CSE