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Albert Einstein ATV

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Albert Einstein ATV
Mission typeISS resupply
OperatorEuropean Space Agency
COSPAR ID2013-027A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.39175
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeATV
ManufacturerEADS Astrium
Thales Alenia Space
Launch mass20,190 kilograms (44,510 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date5 June 2013, 21:52:11 (2013-06-05UTC21:52:11Z) UTC[1][2]
RocketAriane 5ES
Launch siteKourou ELA-3
ContractorArianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Inclination51.6 degrees
Docking with ISS
Docking portZvezda Aft
Docking date15 June 2013, 14:07 UTC
Cargo
Mass6,590 kilograms (14,530 lb)
File:ATV-AlbertEinstein.jpg  

The Albert Einstein ATV, or Automated Transfer Vehicle 004 (ATV-004), is a European unmanned cargo resupply spacecraft, named after the German-born physicist Albert Einstein.[3] The purpose of the spacecraft is to supply the International Space Station (ISS) with propellant, water, air, and dry cargo. It is the fourth and penultimate ATV to be built, following the Edoardo Amaldi, which was launched in March 2012. Albert Einstein's components were constructed in Turin, Italy, and Bremen, Germany, and underwent final assembly and testing in Bremen in 2012.[4][5] The spacecraft left Bremen for Kourou on 31 August 2012 to begin launch preparations.[6]

Albert Einstein was launched on an Ariane 5ES rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana at 21:52:11 GMT on 5 June 2013.[7] The launch was conducted by Arianespace on behalf of the European Space Agency. At the time of its launch, Albert Einstein was the heaviest spacecraft ever launched to orbit by an Ariane rocket, with a total mass of 20,190 kilograms (44,510 lb).[2] The ATV docked successfully with the ISS at 14:07 GMT (16:07 CEST) on 15 June 2013.[8]

Mission payload

The Albert Einstein not only supplies the ISS with cargo for use on the space station, it also supplies fuel, water and air to ensure the continued operation of the station. In addition, the ATV will use its own thrusters and fuel supply to reboost the ISS, in order to counteract the drag the residual atmosphere imposes on the station. The total cost of the Albert Einstein mission will be approximately 450 million euros.[9]

At the time of its launch, the Albert Einstein held the record for:[2]

  • Most dry cargo launched in any European spacecraft – 2,480 kilograms (5,470 lb);
  • Most diverse cargo mix aboard a spacecraft – 1,400 different items;
  • Largest quantity of late cargo (cargo added only two weeks before launch, while Albert Einstein was already mated to the top of the Ariane 5 rocket) – 620 kilograms (1,370 lb).

A full cargo breakdown is provided in the following table:

Cargo Mass
ISS
reboost/attitude
control propellant 		2,580 kilograms (5,690 lb)
ISS
refuel propellant 		860 kilograms (1,900 lb)
Water (for Russian Segment) 570 kilograms (1,260 lb)
Gas (1 tank O2, 2 tanks air) 100 kilograms (220 lb)
Dry cargo
(food, clothes, equipment) 		2,480 kilograms (5,470 lb)
Total 6,590 kilograms (14,530 lb)
Source: ESA[2]

Mission summary

Ariane 5ES rocket carying ATV-4 liftoffs on 5 June 2013.
ATV-4 approaches the ISS on 15 June 2013 to dock with the Zvezda module.

Launch

Albert Einstein arrived at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, in September 2012. [6] It was launched on an Ariane 5ES rocket at 21:52:11 GMT (23:52:11 CEST) on 5 June 2013.[7]

Cruise

After launch, Albert Einstein spent ten days conducting orbital manoeuvres before docking with the ISS. This time frame was chosen for logistical rather than technological reasons – the ATV is capable of docking with the station five days after launch, as demonstrated by the Edoardo Amaldi ATV, but the launch from Kourou could not occur later, as the launch pad was required for subsequent commercial launches. In addition, docking with the ISS could not occur before 11 June, as the Zvezda port (where the Albert Einstein docked) was occupied by Progress 51. After Progress 51 departed on 11 June, cameras on the ISS checked the Zvezda docking port to ensure that no damage was caused when Progress 51 docked with the station, as it had a stuck navigation antenna which could have potentially damaged the docking port.[10][11][12] No damage to the docking port was detected, and so the ATV's docking proceeded as planned.[13]

Docking

The ATV docked successfully with the ISS at 14:07 GMT (16:07 CEST) on 15 June 2013.[8]

ATV missions

Designation Name Launch date ISS docking date Deorbit date Sources
ATV-1 Jules Verne 9 March 2008 3 April 2008 29 September 2008

[14]

ATV-2 Johannes Kepler 16 February 2011 24 February 2011 21 July 2011

[15]

ATV-3 Edoardo Amaldi 23 March 2012 28 March 2012 3 October 2012[16]

[17]

ATV-4 Albert Einstein 5 June 2013 15 June 2013 2 November 2013

[18] [19]

ATV-5 Georges Lemaître 29 July 2014[20][21] 12 August 2014[20] 15 February 2015[21]

[22] [23]

References

  1. ^ "ATV-4 scheduled for summer liftoff". ESA. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d "Europe's heaviest cargo ship luanched to Space Station". ESA. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  3. ^ "ATV-4 to carry name Albert Einstein". ESA. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  4. ^ "Europe's second cargo freighter to fly in December". Spaceflight Now. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  5. ^ "Arianespace... Feeding Amaldi (Launch)". SatNews. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  6. ^ a b "ATV-4 Albert Einstein en route to Kourou". EADS. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Europe's Heaviest Cargo Ship Launched to Space Station". ESA. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Europe's largest spaceship reaches its orbital port". ESA. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  9. ^ "Fact Sheet – ATV Albert Einstein" (PDF). ESA. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  10. ^ "European Cargo Ship Launches to Station, Science for Station Crew". NASA. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  11. ^ "'Albert Einstein' in Space: Europe Launches Cargo Spacecraft Named for Scientist". Space.com. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  12. ^ "Resupply Craft Undocks, New Supply Vehicle Due June 15". NASA. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  13. ^ "“Albert Einstein” Delivers Gear to Expedition 36 Crew". NASA. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  14. ^ "ATV-1: Jules Verne". ESA – ATV. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  15. ^ "ATV-2: Johannes Kepler". ESA – ATV. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  16. ^ "Mission accomplished for ATV Edoardo Amaldi" (Press release). ESA. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  17. ^ "ATV-3: Edoardo Amaldi". ESA – ATV. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  18. ^ "ATV Albert Einstein" (AdobeFlash). ESA. April 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  19. ^ "ATV-4: Albert Einstein". ESA – ATV. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  20. ^ a b "ATV completes final automated docking". ESA – ATV. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  21. ^ a b "Last ATV reentry leaves legacy for future space exploration". ESA – ATV. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  22. ^ "Fifth ATV named after Georges Lemaitre". ESA – ATV. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  23. ^ "Europe's Space Freighter" (AdobeFlash). ESA. 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2018.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albert_Einstein_ATV&oldid=560707900"