Updates ESA's ATV-3 "Edoardo Amaldi"

[N_Molson]

It's almost a normal procedure in Ariane launches, I was completely expecting it

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Information available right now indicates that a strap that connects the cargo carriers with the side walls has gone loose, and it would require some effort (not in the least the removal of the fairing) to access the inside of the cargo carrier. I will let our Orbitnaut Pete and Chris the boss of NSF.com to speak for the details....

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/03/atv-3-launch-slipped-to-late-march/

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

While this issue relates to a strap holding cargo bag, it is not known at this time specifically what this means - is is a strap not tightened properly, or not locked/latched properly, or not attached to the ATV frame properly, or a bag not loaded properly...?

What is clear is that the ATV fairing will have to be removed, the ATV hatch opened, the strap issue rectified, the ATV hatch closed, the ATV atmosphere re-flushed with ultra-clean air, and the fairing re-installed. Two weeks should be enough time to do all that.

What will be really annoying though is if they get inside and find that it's all okay after all. :lol:

 

[Yoda]

How much actual damage can one loose strap truly do ??? So some items might shift a bit ( I'm sure there's multiple straps holding everything in place) "Items might shift during flight".
Seems a bit extreme for one loose strap..................:tiphat:

 

[Capt_hensley]

How much actual damage can one loose strap truly do ??? So some items might shift a bit ( I'm sure there's multiple straps holding everything in place) "Items might shift during flight".
Seems a bit extreme for one loose strap..................:tiphat:

"For want of a nail, a shoe was lost, for want of a shoe, a horse was lost, for want of a horse, the battle was lost."~Unknown Author

 

[tl8]

How much actual damage can one loose strap truly do ??? So some items might shift a bit ( I'm sure there's multiple straps holding everything in place) "Items might shift during flight".
Seems a bit extreme for one loose strap..................:tiphat:

If items come loose, they might hit something important and damage it.
Also it might damage the item itself. It was expensive enough to get it into space, you want it in one piece.

Finally, on an extreme side, the computer program might not be able to compensate for a moving payload, however small it is.

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: Mission Status Center:

SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012ESA has set preliminary launch and docking times for the Automated Transfer Vehicle mission after announcing Friday they flight would be delayed about two weeks to check cargo bags inside the resupply spacecraft.

The third ATV mission was due to launch March 9 and dock to the International Space Station on March 18, U.S. time.

Officials reset launch for March 23 at about 0431 GMT (12:31 a.m. EDT), followed by arrival at the space station March 28 at about 2251 GMT (6:51 p.m. EDT).

The times are subject to change based on final mission planning and the space station's orbit as launch approaches.

{...}

 

[orb]

ESA:
New target launch date for ATV-3

5 March 2012

A routine inspection has concluded that additional measures are required to ensure the maximum readiness of the third Automated Transfer Vehicle for launch. It has therefore been decided to postpone the launch previously scheduled for 9 March.

The launch of ESA’s third Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV-3) is targeted at 23 March, with a liftoff scheduled for 4:31 UT (5:31 CET). It is part of the internationally coordinated servicing effort to support the International Space Station.

{...}

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

My latest NASASpaceflight article: Europe’s ATV-3 spacecraft set to deliver large cargo load to ISS

 

[orb]

ESA:
Docking date for ATV-3 with Space Station

8 March 2012

ESA’s third Automated Transfer Vehicle, scheduled for launch on an Ariane 5 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 23 March, is planned to dock with the International Space Station five days later.

ATV-3 will automatically dock with the Station’s Russian Zvezda module during the night of 28–29 March. The precise time will be known after launch, which is set for 04:31 GMT (05:31 CET) on Friday, 23 March.

{...}

 

[orb]

SPACE.com: Europe's Robotic Cargo Ship to Launch to Space Station Next Week


Since it's a little more than a week from now, I think it's time to post here a link to calendar event for the launch. You can request a reminder for it there.

 

[orb]

Arianespace: Ariane 5 is readied for its ATV mission following reinstallation of the payload fairing

CBS News Space: ATV-3 launch-to-docking timeline

{colsp=2}

TIME​

|{colsp=4}

MET​

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UTC​

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EDT​

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DD​

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HH​

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MM​

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SS​

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DATE​

{colsp=7}

2012-03-23​

04:34:05  |12:34:05 a.m.  |00  |00  |00  |00  |Launch

05:33:58|01:33:58 a.m.|00|00|59|53|Orbital insertion

13:57:51|09:57:51 a.m.|00|09|23|46|Phasing burn TP1 (6.19 m/s)

14:23:47|10:23:47 a.m.|00|09|49|42|Phasing burn TP2 (6.17 m/s)

{colsp=7}

2012-03-24​

14:17:00|10:17:00 a.m.|01|09|42|55|CAM test 1 MSU 1

15:49:00|11:49:00 a.m.|01|11|14|55|CAM test 1 MSU 2

{colsp=7}

2012-03-25​

04:56:40|12:56:40 a.m.|02|00|22|35|Phasing burn MC1_1 (1.60 m/s)

05:41:37|01:41:37 a.m.|02|01|07|32|Phasing burn MC1_2 (1.60 m/s)

{colsp=7}

2012-03-26​

19:33:05|03:33:05 p.m.|03|14|59|00|Phasing burn MC2_1 (1.40 m/s)

20:18:10|04:18:10 p.m.|03|15|44|05|Phasing burn MC2_2 (1.40 m/s)

{colsp=7}

2012-03-27​

20:20:07|04:20:07 p.m.|04|15|46|02|Phasing burn TV1_1 (17.77 m/s)

21:05:31|05:05:31 p.m.|04|16|31|26|Phasing burn TV1_2 (17.80 m/s)

{colsp=7}

2012-03-28 UTC / 2012-03-27 EDT​

03:59:19|11:59:19 p.m.|04|23|25|14|Phasing burn TV2_1 (6.00 m/s)

{colsp=7}

2012-03-28​

04:45:09|12:45:09 a.m.|05|00|11|04|Phasing burn TV2_2 (6.00 m/s)

11:39:12|07:39:12 a.m.|05|07|05|07|Phasing burn TV3_1 (3.00 m/s)

12:02:37|08:02:37 a.m.|05|07|28|32|Phasing burn TV3_2 (0.00 m/s)

12:25:12|08:25:12 a.m.|05|07|51|07|Phasing burn TV3_3 (3.00 m/s)

13:50:06|09:50:06 a.m.|05|09|16|01|S-2 waypoint

16:38:57|12:38:57 p.m.|05|12|04|52|S-1 waypoint

16:46:38|12:46:38 p.m.|05|12|12|33|Phasing burn IF1 (0.00 m/s)

17:32:46|01:32:46 p.m.|05|12|58|41|Phasing burn IF2 (0.00 m/s)

18:17:28|02:17:28 p.m.|05|13|43|23|Phasing burn IF3 (1.20 m/s)

18:26:27|02:26:27 p.m.|05|13|52|22|S-1/2 waypoint

19:12:36|03:12:36 p.m.|05|14|38|31|S1 waypoint/Homing burn HM1 (600 s, 1.69 m/s)

19:28:05|03:28:05 p.m.|05|14|54|00|Homing burn HM2 (150 s, 0.04 m/s)

19:43:35|03:43:35 p.m.|05|15|09|30|Homing burn HM3 (150 s, 0.16 m/s)

19:49:05|03:49:05 p.m.|05|15|15|00|Homing burn HM4 (600 s, 2.10 m/s)

19:59:05|03:59:05 p.m.|05|15|25|00|Arrive at S2 holdpoint

20:30:27|04:30:27 p.m.|05|15|56|22|Depart S2/Closing burn CM1 (270 s, 1.49 m/s)

20:43:27|04:43:27 p.m.|05|16|09|22|Closing burn CM2 (180 s, 0.40 m/s)

20:56:27|04:56:27 p.m.|05|16|22|22|Closing burn CM3 (150 s, 0.41 m/s)

21:03:47|05:03:47 p.m.|05|16|29|42|Closing burn CM4 (400 s, 1.55 m/s)

21:10:27|05:10:27 p.m.|05|16|36|22|Arrive at S3 holdpoint

21:46:57|05:46:57 p.m.|05|17|12|52|Depart S3 holdpoint

22:10:27|06:10:27 p.m.|05|17|36|22|Arrive at S4 holdpoint

22:23:27|06:23:27 p.m.|05|17|49|22|Depart S4 holdpoint

22:25:57|06:25:57 p.m.|05|17|51|52|Arrive at S41 holdpoint

22:30:57|06:30:57 p.m.|05|17|56|52|Depart S41 holdpoint

22:34:27|06:34:27 p.m.|05|18|00|22|Nominal docking

 

[orb]

NASA:
MEDIA ADVISORY : M12-044
Coverage Set for European Cargo Delivery to Space Station

March 19, 2012

HOUSTON -- NASA Television will broadcast live the flight of the European Space Agency's third Automated Transfer Vehicle cargo ship to the International Space Station. Coverage will begin with its launch on Thursday.

The 13-ton "Edoardo Amaldi" spacecraft, named in honor of the 20th-century Italian physicist who is regarded as one of the fathers of European spaceflight, will carry 7.2 tons of propellant, water and supplies to the six crew members aboard the orbital laboratory.

An Ariane 5 rocket that will place the cargo ship into orbit is scheduled to launch at 11:34 p.m. CDT on March 22 from the Arianespace launch site in Kourou, French Guiana. NASA TV's coverage of the launch will begin at 11 p.m.

Like two predecessors that flew to the station in 2008 and 2011, the Edoardo Amaldi will conduct a slow, methodical trek to the complex under the guidance of engineers at the Automated Transfer Vehicle Control Center in Toulouse, France. It automatically will dock to the aft port of the Russian Zvezda service module at 5:34 p.m. on March 28. NASA TV coverage of the docking will begin at 4:45 p.m.

Edoardo Amaldi is expected to remain at the outpost through early September, when it will undock and be commanded to deorbit and burn up upon reentry into Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean.

{...}

 

[IronRain]

ATV: Late cargo access

 

[orb]

Arianespace:

• 2012-03-20: Arianespace's third ATV launch for International Space Station servicing is given a “go” for liftoff
  
  
• Launch Kit (PDF)

 

[Notebook]

Video Corner link:

http://www.arianespace.tv/

N.

 

[orb]

Arianespace:

• 2012-03-21: Ready for liftoff: Arianespace's Ariane 5 arrives at the launch pad with ATV Edoardo Amaldi:

  {colsp=4}

  Launch window for VA205​

  
  Universal time (GMT)|Paris, France|Kourou, French Guiana|Washington D.C., USA
  
  04:34 a.m.|05:34 a.m.|01:34 a.m.|00:34 a.m.
  
  March 23, 2012|March 23, 2012|March 23, 2012|March 23, 2012

  The precise moment of liftoff will be determined at the time of the launch readiness review
  
  
  
  Riding atop the mobile launch table, Ariane 5 is transferred to the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch zone today with its ATV resupply spacecraft for the International Space Station.​

ESA:

• ATV Edoardo Amaldi set for liftoff:

  21 March 2012
  
  ESA’s third Automated Transfer Vehicle, Edoardo Amaldi, is ready for launch to the International Space Station. ESA’s formal Launch Readiness Review on Monday revealed no problems with the vessel. Launch is set for this Friday at 04:34 GMT (05:34 CET).
  
  {...}

  
  
• Crucial first steps in ATV’s orbital journey:

  21 March 2012
  
  The mission timeline highlights the most crucial steps in ATV Edoardo Amaldi’s ride into orbit on Ariane 5 flight VA205. The night-time liftoff is set for Friday, 23 March, at 01:34 local Kourou time or 04:34 GMT.
  
  What’s shaping up to be a spectacular night launch actually involves two missions: Ariane 5 boosting the third Automated Transfer Vehicle into orbit, and that of ATV-3 itself, which starts on separation from the launcher’s upper stage.
  
  Ariane 5 flight VA205 is set to loft ATV-3 and its cargo into an initial circular orbit at an altitude of 260 km.
  
  From there, ATV-3 will conduct a series of engine burns to match, or ‘phase,’ its altitude and speed gradually with those of the International Space Station.
  
  Weighing in at 19 714 kg, including 6596kg of fuel, air, oxygen, scientific equipment, spare parts and crew supplies, ATV-3 is the heaviest payload ever lofted by Ariane 5. Including the launcher itself, 777 tonnes will be pushed off the pad.
  
  {...}

Florida Today: Rocket Rolls Out For ISS Supply Run

 

[orb]

NASASpaceflight: ATV-3, ESA set for important resupply mission to ISS

ESA: Follow the launch of ATV-3

SPACE.com: Europe Launching Heaviest Space Station Cargo Ship Friday

Spaceflight Now:

• PHOTOS: Ariane 5 rolls to launch pad (PHOTO GALLERY #1)
• PHOTOS: Ariane 5 poised for launch (PHOTO GALLERY #2)
• PHOTOS: Ariane 5 poised for launch (PHOTO GALLERY #3)
  
  
• Ariane 5 launch timeline

 

[orb]

Arianespace Mission Updates:

• 2012-03-22: Final countdown underway for Arianespace's Ariane 5 mission with ATV Edoardo Amaldi

The Ariane 5 with its ATV Edoardo Amaldi payload is shown at the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch zone, ready for liftoff on Arianespace’s third resupply flight to support the International Space Station.


[highlight]L[eventtimer]2012-3-23 4:34:5;%c%%ddd%/%hh%:%mm%:%ss%[/eventtimer][/highlight]
​

 

[N_Molson]

I will be sleeping

I'll watch the replay during breakfeast