De-orbiting the Jules Verne ATV

De-orbiting in two stages

 

The Jules Verne ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle), launched from the Guianese Space Centre (CSG) on 9 March 2008, is an excellent example of the correct way of conducting a complete mission in low Earth orbit: de-orbiting the final stage of the launcher and then the cargo itself, at the end of their respective missions. Knowing that such structures would not burn up completely in the atmosphere, a fall-back point in the Pacific Ocean was calculated as a destination for the remaining fragments.

 

Exceptional missions, perfectly run

 

After the ATV had separated from the launcher, it was necessary to wait a while for the orbit to be sufficiently distant before reigniting the stage to enable verification of all the resources required to complete the mission successfully. All the capabilities of the EPS were used, and the launcher also had the ability to modify its own flight programme to guarantee de-orbiting and aiming for the optimum fall-back point. The entire Ariane 5/ATV mission ran smoothly, concerning both the ATV as passenger and de-orbiting the EPS.

About seven months later, the ATV and its almost 20 tonnes undocked from the ISS (International Space Station) for an atmospheric re-entry controlled by the Toulouse Space Centre (CST). First the perigee was lowered and then, two orbits later, the Jules Verne plunged into the South Pacific. It broke up just as expected on atmospheric re-entry, making for a perfect de-orbiting process. The same procedure will be followed for future European cargo vessels.