The International Space Station
The ATV or Automated Transfer Vehicle : What on earth is that?
One of the two main European contributions to the ISS is a curious cylinder, 10 metres long with a diameter of 4.85 metres. Like the little fish around a giant whale,Its mission is to supply, clean and tow the ISS. A sort of maid for all seasons that will be indispensable for the life of the orbital station.
Three in one
The first automatic cargo vehicle, named the Jules Verne, was delivered in 2008 by Ariane 5. The ATV is made up of three different modules. The first, for propulsion, holds up to 6 tons of fuel, while its chemicals can produce energy out in space. The second module holds all the electronic, telecommunications and thermal control installations. And its job at the end of the mission is to bring back all the Station’s rubbish bins.
A true flying supply vessel
At each mission the ATV, which is produced by the European Space Agency and for which EADS Atrium is the prime contractor, while carry over 9 tons of freight, all the different things for the ISS. Fuel for its own operation and to supply the station, 4,500 kg of equipment for the astronauts, 100 kg of air and 800 kg of water. No need to add that it will be awaited like the messiah by the crews. Maybe it will also be bringing the post from Earth?
Are you drifting, madam?
That’s one of the jobs of this heavy-duty supply vessel-cum-tug. It’s equipped with four large motors and will serve as a tug. We know that every satellite (and the ISS is a sort of manned satellite) imperceptibly loses a bit of speed and thus a bit of height. It falls a bit out of its orbit so that, from time to time, its trajectory must be corrected. This operation, which guzzles a huge amount of fuel, cannot be carried out by the station itself. So it’s our very handy cargo vessel that will handle the re-boosts, the raising of the orbit intended to compensate for the erosion.
