Previous operations
Preparation campaign : september 2007
Preparation campaign: weeks from 01 to 23 september 2007
Since the beginning of the month, each mechanical element constitutive of the subsystem of propulsion (PRSS) that is to say: tanks, nozzles, network of pipes and other valves, are put in pressure, sealing also being checked.
This exhaustive check-up is necessary to guarantee that the vehicle ATV did not suffer damage during its transport from ESTEC to CSG and is able to be filled, later with propellants.
ESA and
The PRSS will be also used to raise the altitude of the ISS (to the maximum of 80 kilometers, the ISS losing 100 meters of altitude per day).
In parallel of the activities unrolled on the PRSS and this during more several days, the ATV Jules Verne also undergoes functional electric tests. Thus, each electric component embarked on the vehicle is activated and its behaviour checked. Among these equipments, one finds “Visual Video Targets” or VVT, great backlighted black test cards, positioned in front of the ATV and which allow the astronauts on ISS to visually control the alignment of the ATV with the international space station.
Week's pictures with captions
Preparation campaign: august 2007
Preparation campaign: week from 20 to
Further functional testing of the electrical systems. All electrical sub-systems are tested one by one.
Preparation campaign: week from 13 to
The following have been scheduled:
- Continued inspection of tightness of the tanks which will provide the International Space Station (ISS) with drinking water - Electrical coupling of the two SC (spacecraft) and ICC (integrated cargo carrier) modules of the automatic transfer vehicle (ATV), which will then be connected to control benches
- Functional testing of different ATV systems (laser radiometers and ISS target)
- Tightness inspection of tanks for fuelling with gas (oxygen, nitrogen and breathable air)
The Jules Verne ATV now has two modules (a pressurised module: ICC and a service module: SC which have been electrically connected.
This week’s picture, the clean room in the S5C. On the left, the ICC, on the right the SC and between them, the electrical cables linking the two modules
Preparation campaign: week from 6 to
The beginning of the week is devoted to:
- checking tightness of the system for supplying the ISS with water and gas
- checking the interface between the SC and its flight adaptor
Towards the end of the week:
- verifying the tension of the device securing the ATV to its flight adaptor
The week’s pictures with captions
Preparation campaign: week from 30 July to
The unloading and ferrying of the ATV took place from 30 July to 1 August.
The second half of the week was devoted to opening the three containers carrying the ATV flight components:
the spacecraft (SC) (module for control, propulsion and power supply),
the integrated cargo carrier (ICC) (pressurised module for transport)
and the separation and distancing module (SDM) (flight adaptor).
The first sub-assemblies and integration scaffolds were assembled in a clean room, while at the same time the first electrical benches were deployed in the control premises.
A few of the week’s pictures with captions, showing the week's operations
