Johannes Kepler ATV
Encyclopedia
The Johannes Kepler ATV, or Automated Transfer Vehicle
002 (ATV-002), was an unmanned cargo resupply spacecraft
launched by the European Space Agency
(ESA). It was named after the German astronomer
Johannes Kepler
. The spacecraft was launched on 17 February 2011, on a mission to supply the International Space Station
(ISS) with propellant, air and dry cargo. Carrying cargo weighing over 7000 kilograms (15,432.4 lb), Johannes Kepler had a total mass of over 20000 kilograms (44,092.5 lb), and was at the time the heaviest payload yet launched by the ESA. Johannes Kepler was the second ATV to be launched, following the Jules Verne
mission in 2008.
Johannes Kepler carried around five tonnes more cargo than the Russian Progress-M
resupply spacecraft, and about 1.5 tonnes more than the Japanese HTV
. It also marked a significant payload increase over the Jules Verne mission, which carried less than one-third as much cargo as Johannes Kepler.
Many of the supplies aboard the ATV were used for the Space Shuttle
mission STS-133
and the ISS Expedition 26
. A Reentry Breakup Recorder
was placed aboard before the ATV's separation on 20 June 2011. Johannes Kepler performed a destructive re-entry
on 21 June 2011, with its remains impacting the Pacific Ocean
.
of electrical power to its rechargeable batteries. The ATV's rendezvous and docking system mounted a telegoniometer
, which functioned as a radar
system, and two videometers, which fired laser
pulses at cube-shaped reflectors on the ISS' Zvezda service module for range detection
. The nose of the spacecraft contained rendezvous sensors and Russian docking equipment, as well as eight maneuvering thrusters to complement the propulsion module.
Larger, lighter cargo racks gave Johannes Kepler a far greater cargo capacity than its predecessor, Jules Verne; whereas Jules Verne delivered approximately 2.3 tons of cargo to the ISS, Johannes Kepler carried over 7 tons.
.
rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou
, French Guiana
. The launch was conducted by Arianespace
on behalf of the European Space Agency
.
The first launch attempt, on 15 February 2011, was halted four minutes before lift-off, due to an erroneous signal from one of the rocket's fuel tanks.
in western Africa. Hooks and latches engaged a few minutes later to firmly attach ATV-2 to the ISS. The docking of ATV-2 allowed station managers to clear the way for Space Shuttle Discovery
's launch on the STS-133
mission.
The Johannes Kepler mission marked the first time European astronauts were onboard the International Space Station during an ATV mission, with Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli welcoming the ATV's arrival. ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori
was also aboard the ISS at the same time as the ATV, having arrived on Space Shuttle Endeavour
on the STS-134
mission in May 2011.
Sources:
Automated Transfer Vehicle
The Automated Transfer Vehicle or ATV is an expendable, unmanned resupply spacecraft developed by the European Space Agency . ATVs are designed to supply the International Space Station with propellant, water, air, payload and experiments...
002 (ATV-002), was an unmanned cargo resupply spacecraft
Unmanned resupply spacecraft
Unmanned resupply spacecraft are a special kind of robotic spacecraft that operate autonomously without a human crew, designed to support space station operation...
launched by the European Space Agency
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
(ESA). It was named after the German astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
Johannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler was a German mathematician, astronomer and astrologer. A key figure in the 17th century scientific revolution, he is best known for his eponymous laws of planetary motion, codified by later astronomers, based on his works Astronomia nova, Harmonices Mundi, and Epitome of Copernican...
. The spacecraft was launched on 17 February 2011, on a mission to supply the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
(ISS) with propellant, air and dry cargo. Carrying cargo weighing over 7000 kilograms (15,432.4 lb), Johannes Kepler had a total mass of over 20000 kilograms (44,092.5 lb), and was at the time the heaviest payload yet launched by the ESA. Johannes Kepler was the second ATV to be launched, following the Jules Verne
Jules Verne ATV
The Jules Verne ATV, or Automated Transfer Vehicle 001 , was an unmanned cargo resupply spacecraft launched by the European Space Agency . The ATV was named after the French science-fiction author Jules Verne...
mission in 2008.
Johannes Kepler carried around five tonnes more cargo than the Russian Progress-M
Progress-M
Progress-M , also known as Progress 7K-TGM, is a Russian, previously Soviet spacecraft which is used to resupply space stations. It is a variant of the Progress spacecraft, originally built in the late 1980s as a modernised version of the Progress 7K-TG spacecraft, using new systems developed for...
resupply spacecraft, and about 1.5 tonnes more than the Japanese HTV
H-II Transfer Vehicle
The H-II Transfer Vehicle , called , is an unmanned resupply spacecraft used to resupply the Kibō Japanese Experiment Module and the International Space Station . The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has been working on the design since the early 1990s. The first mission, HTV-1, was originally...
. It also marked a significant payload increase over the Jules Verne mission, which carried less than one-third as much cargo as Johannes Kepler.
Many of the supplies aboard the ATV were used for the Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
mission STS-133
STS-133
STS-133 was the 133rd mission in NASA's Space Shuttle program; during the mission, Space Shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station. It was Discoverys 39th and final mission. The mission launched on 24 February 2011, and landed on 9 March 2011...
and the ISS Expedition 26
Expedition 26
The Expedition 26 was the twenty-sixth long-duration mission to the International Space Station. The expedition's first three crew members – one US astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts – arrived at the station on board Soyuz TMA-01M on 10 October 2010...
. A Reentry Breakup Recorder
Reentry Breakup Recorder
A Reentry Breakup Recorder is a device that is designed to be placed aboard a spacecraft to record pertinent data when the spacecraft breaks up as it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere....
was placed aboard before the ATV's separation on 20 June 2011. Johannes Kepler performed a destructive re-entry
Atmospheric reentry
Atmospheric entry is the movement of human-made or natural objects as they enter the atmosphere of a celestial body from outer space—in the case of Earth from an altitude above the Kármán Line,...
on 21 June 2011, with its remains impacting the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
Spacecraft
Johannes Kepler consisted of two sections: the Propulsion Module, with four main engines and 28 smaller maneuvering thrusters, and the Integrated Cargo Carrier, which attached directly to the ISS and could hold up to eight standard payload racks. The four solar wings of the spacecraft provided up to 4,800 wattsWatts
-People:*Watts , the surname of several people*Watts S. Humphrey , American software engineer often called the father of software quality*Watts , a Canadian record producer-Fictional characters:*Watts family in EastEnders...
of electrical power to its rechargeable batteries. The ATV's rendezvous and docking system mounted a telegoniometer
Telegoniometer
A Telegoniometer is a device for varying the phase relationship among two or more antennae, in an array for purposes of steering the directionality of the array, without physically moving the antennae...
, which functioned as a radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
system, and two videometers, which fired laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
pulses at cube-shaped reflectors on the ISS' Zvezda service module for range detection
Rangefinder
A rangefinder is a device that measures distance from the observer to a target, for the purposes of surveying, determining focus in photography, or accurately aiming a weapon. Some devices use active methods to measure ; others measure distance using trigonometry...
. The nose of the spacecraft contained rendezvous sensors and Russian docking equipment, as well as eight maneuvering thrusters to complement the propulsion module.
Larger, lighter cargo racks gave Johannes Kepler a far greater cargo capacity than its predecessor, Jules Verne; whereas Jules Verne delivered approximately 2.3 tons of cargo to the ISS, Johannes Kepler carried over 7 tons.
Specifications
| ATV-2 | |
|---|---|
| Largest diameter | 4.5 metres (14.8 ft) |
| Length (probe retracted) | 9.8 metres (32.2 ft) |
| Spacecraft mass (with fluids loaded) | 20010 kilograms (44,114.5 lb) |
| Deployed solar array width | 22.3 metres (73.2 ft) |
Mission payload
| Cargo | Mass |
|---|---|
| ISS reboost/attitude control propellants |
4534 kilograms (9,995.8 lb) |
| ISS refuel propellant |
850 kilograms (1,873.9 lb) |
| Oxygen gas | 100 kilograms (220.5 lb) |
| Water | 0 kilogram (0 lb) |
| Dry cargo (food, clothes, equipment) |
1600 kilograms (3,527.4 lb) |
| Total: | 7084 kilograms (15,617.5 lb) |
GeoFlow II
Johanes Kepler delivered the GeoFlow II hydrodynamics experiment container to the ISS. This experiment was designed to observe liquid movements in microgravity as accurately as possible, and compare them with computer simulations. GeoFlow II was intended to help scientists to understand convection currents within the Earth’s mantleMantle (geology)
The mantle is a part of a terrestrial planet or other rocky body large enough to have differentiation by density. The interior of the Earth, similar to the other terrestrial planets, is chemically divided into layers. The mantle is a highly viscous layer between the crust and the outer core....
.
Launch
On February 16, 2011, Johannes Kepler was launched on an Ariane 5ESAriane 5
Ariane 5 is, as a part of Ariane rocket family, an expendable launch system used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit or low Earth orbit . Ariane 5 rockets are manufactured under the authority of the European Space Agency and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales...
rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou
Kourou
Kourou is a commune in French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France located in South America.Kourou is the location of the Guiana Space Centre, France and ESA's main spaceport.-Geography:...
, French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
. The launch was conducted by Arianespace
Arianespace
Arianespace SA is a French company founded in 1980 as the world's first commercial space transportation company. It undertakes the production, operation, and marketing of the Ariane 5 rocket launcher as part of the Ariane programme....
on behalf of the European Space Agency
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
.
The first launch attempt, on 15 February 2011, was halted four minutes before lift-off, due to an erroneous signal from one of the rocket's fuel tanks.
Docking
Docking with the ISS was completed on 24 February 2011 at 15:59 UTC, after a 15-minute delay. The spacecraft traveled over eight days to catch up with the space station, and arrived at the aft port of the station's Zvezda service module. During the rendezvous operations, ATV-2 traveled a total of 2.5 million miles. The docking occurred as ATV-2 and the ISS flew over the coast of LiberiaLiberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
in western Africa. Hooks and latches engaged a few minutes later to firmly attach ATV-2 to the ISS. The docking of ATV-2 allowed station managers to clear the way for Space Shuttle Discovery
Space Shuttle Discovery
Space Shuttle Discovery is one of the retired orbiters of the Space Shuttle program of NASA, the space agency of the United States, and was operational from its maiden flight, STS-41-D on August 30, 1984, until its final landing during STS-133 on March 9, 2011...
's launch on the STS-133
STS-133
STS-133 was the 133rd mission in NASA's Space Shuttle program; during the mission, Space Shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station. It was Discoverys 39th and final mission. The mission launched on 24 February 2011, and landed on 9 March 2011...
mission.
The Johannes Kepler mission marked the first time European astronauts were onboard the International Space Station during an ATV mission, with Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli welcoming the ATV's arrival. ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori
Roberto Vittori
Roberto Vittori is an Italian air force officer and an ESA astronaut. After graduating from the Italian Air Force Academy in 1989, Vittori flew in the Italian Air Force. He then trained as a test pilot in the United States....
was also aboard the ISS at the same time as the ATV, having arrived on Space Shuttle Endeavour
Space Shuttle Endeavour
Space Shuttle Endeavour is one of the retired orbiters of the Space Shuttle program of NASA, the space agency of the United States. Endeavour was the fifth and final spaceworthy NASA space shuttle to be built, constructed as a replacement for Challenger...
on the STS-134
STS-134
STS-134 was the penultimate mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program. The mission marked the 25th and final flight of . This flight delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and an ExPRESS Logistics Carrier to the International Space Station. Mark Kelly served as the mission commander...
mission in May 2011.
Station re-boost
On March 18, 2011, the Orbit Control System (OCS) thrusters of the ATV-2 spacecraft were used to re-boost the orbit of the ISS. The engines were started at 06:00:00 GMT, and shut down at 06:14:42. The maneuver increased the altitude of the space station by 3.9 km.End of mission
On 20 June 2011, Johannes Kepler undocked from the ISS. At 18:30 UTC (20:30 CEST) that same day, while preparing to deorbit, the ATV was forced to conduct a debris-avoidance maneuver, using some of its remaining fuel to move into a safe orbit after NASA warned of a potential collision with orbital debris. On 21 June 2011, the ATV deorbited, burning up in the atmosphere over the South Pacific Ocean at around 22:44 CET.ATV missions
| Designation | Name | Launch date | Docking date | Re-entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATV-001 | Jules Verne Jules Verne ATV The Jules Verne ATV, or Automated Transfer Vehicle 001 , was an unmanned cargo resupply spacecraft launched by the European Space Agency . The ATV was named after the French science-fiction author Jules Verne... |
9 March 2008 | Docked 3 April 2008 | 29 September 2008 |
| ATV-002 | Johannes Kepler | 16 February 2011 | Docked 24 February 2011 | 21 June 2011 |
| ATV-003 | Edoardo Amaldi Edoardo Amaldi ATV The Edoardo Amaldi ATV, or Automated Transfer Vehicle 003 , is a European unmanned cargo resupply spacecraft named after Italian physicist Edoardo Amaldi. The spacecraft is scheduled for launch in 2012, on a mission to supply the International Space Station with propellant, water, air, and dry cargo... |
29 February 2012 | Planned | Planned |
| ATV-004 | Albert Einstein Albert Einstein ATV The Albert Einstein ATV, or Automated Transfer Vehicle 004 , is a European unmanned cargo resupply spacecraft named after German-born physicist Albert Einstein. The spacecraft is scheduled for launch in 2013, on a mission to supply the International Space Station with propellant, water, air, and... |
February 2013 | Planned | Planned |
| ATV-005 | unnamed | February 2014 | Planned | Planned |
See also
- H-II Transfer VehicleH-II Transfer VehicleThe H-II Transfer Vehicle , called , is an unmanned resupply spacecraft used to resupply the Kibō Japanese Experiment Module and the International Space Station . The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has been working on the design since the early 1990s. The first mission, HTV-1, was originally...
- Progress spacecraft
- List of unmanned spaceflights to the ISS