European Space Agency Launches New Orbital Supply Ship

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."

Why do you think that?

[WindBourne]

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.

Not trivial

[sammyo]

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 [bbc.co.uk] during an automated docking trial.

Grapple arm?

[amightywind]

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.

Re:Why do you think that?

[moosesocks]

Yes, but it took them quite a while to get it right, and Russian spacecraft throughout the 60s and 70s were plagued with docking failures.

These days, they've gotten it to the point where it works quite well, although this certainly wasn't always the case.

Re:Grapple arm?

[pe1rxq]

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.

Re:Why do you think that?

[Cochonou]

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 [wikipedia.org].
The ATV uses a specifically made video meter [sodern.fr] (PDF).

Re:Containers?

[(H)elix1]

You apparently don't appreciate the payload differences.

Soyuz = VW Beetle
Shuttle = tractor trailer

Perhaps a better comparison would be the Proton heavy [globalsecurity.org], which can push 44,100 lb to LEO, 12,100 lb to GTO, 4,850 lb to GEO. The Soyuz [globalsecurity.org] is 15,400 lb to LEO. Not all cargo needs to go up on a heavy, however, as the (relatively) cheap Soyuz do the job.

The shuttle, payload to 53,700 lb to LEO, 8,390 lb to GTO. It also goes EOL in two years, with optimistic hopes that the US heavy will actually fly in 2014.

Re:Non-reusable vehicles

[Sigurd_Fafnersbane]

The ISS is in low-earth orbit. So low that it requires propulsion to stay in orbit due to atmospheric drag. If you put more stuff up there you need more fuel to keep this in orbit so it is not for free to "park it close by". It is not going to stay there unless it is receiving a frequent boost from the friendly ATV, Progress or Shuttle.

Re:Grapple arm?

[Somegeek]

"and never will." seems a bit strong. Here's a link to a video clip on SpaceX's website showing a simulation of their Dragon capsule approaching ISS, being captured and then docked by the station's arm.

http://www.spacex.com/00Graphics/Videos/Dragon_ISS_Rendezvous.mpg [spacex.com]

Granted, it hasn't happened yet, but it sure is in the planning stages.

Re:Robots will take the sky away from you mere hum

[DerekLyons]

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.

Re:Automated?

[scatters]

Sad that the moderators missed your most excellent Elite reference...