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European Space Agency Launches New Orbital Supply Ship

Posted by Soulskill on from the neither-rain-nor-sleet-nor-gloomy-vacuum dept.

erik.martino brings us a story about the European Space Agency's successful launch of a new type of cargo ship to resupply the ISS. The first Automated Transport Vehicle (ATV), named after Jules Verne, is the "very first spacecraft in the world designed to conduct automated docking in full compliance with the very tight safety constraints imposed by human spaceflight operations." Among other things, it carries water, oxygen, and propellant to help boost the ISS to a higher orbit. We recently discussed NASA's need for a new cargo transport system. Quoting: "Beyond Jules Verne, ESA has already contracted industry to produce four more ATVs to be flown through to 2015. With both ESA's ATV and Russia's Progress, the ISS will be able to rely on two independent servicing systems to ensure its operations after the retirement of the US space shuttle in 2010. It incorporates a 45-m3 pressurised module, derived from the Columbus pressure shell, and a Russian-built docking system, similar to those used on Soyuz manned ferries and on the Progress re-supply ship. About three times larger than its Russian counterpart, it can also deliver about three times more cargo."

6 of 129 comments (clear)

  1. Why do you think that? by WindBourne · · Score: 5, Informative

    The automated docking is Russian. They have been using it since the 60's. I wish America had elected to do this, but we did not. Our approach will be to bring crafts up close, then allow an arm to hook up and pull the craft in.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    1. Re:Why do you think that? by Cochonou · · Score: 5, Informative

      There is a significant difference between the respective docking systems of the Progress docks and the ATV.
      The Progress uses a multi-antenna radar system named KURS.
      The ATV uses a specifically made video meter (PDF).

  2. Not trivial by sammyo · · Score: 3, Informative

    This should be making big news, but I expect they are keeping it low key. The Mir was almost destroyed http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1087974.stm during an automated docking trial.

  3. Grapple arm? by amightywind · · Score: 3, Informative

    You don't know what you are talking about. A grapple arm has never been used to dock a craft to ISS and never will. You may complain that the shuttle uses a human in the loop to dock with the ISS. I think the caution is warranted considering the orbiter weighs 285000 lbs and carries 7 crew. Orion will have a standard docking adapter and can fly unmanned. So will SpaceX and Taurus II.

    --
    an ill wind that blows no good
    1. Re:Grapple arm? by pe1rxq · · Score: 3, Informative

      I think you might need to read up on the SpaceX Dragon capsule....
      It won't be able to dock without help from the station's arm.

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      Secure messaging: http://quickmsg.vreeken.net/
  4. Re:Robots will take the sky away from you mere hum by DerekLyons · · Score: 3, Informative

    but involving humans in the process is tremendously costly because of the need to insulate humans from the harsh environment - whereas properly designed automated machines work quite nicely even in the hard vacuum and temperature extremes of space.

    Of course there is more to the issue that you fail to mention. Humans are extremely flexible and robots... aren't. Humans can make repairs on station... robots can't. Etc... Etc...
     
    Then there is the issue of working speed - what it has taken three years for Spirit to accomplish would have taken a human geologist a mere three days.
     
     

    If the Europeans are smart, they will strap a couple of rockets onto the International Space Station (ISS) and develop a control system smart enough to slowly tug the ISS out of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and into Low Moon Orbit (LMO) autonomously.

    Lets hope they are also smart enough to build an entire new electronics system for the Station as the passage through the Van Allen belts will fry it all. Lets also hope they come up with some new radiation shielding, as the station will be uninhabitable due to the increased radiation on the other side of the belt.
     
     

    Even nicer, the trip to the Moon could be slow and leisurely because the impatient and gluttonous humans wouldn't be along. We machines might even be able to make do with Ion engines for the cruise phase from the Earth to the Moon.

    If having humans onboard was the reason why the trip was made so fast, you'd have a point.