* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: ATV-2 Johannes Kepler

Blobrana · L

ATV preparing for fiery destruction

ATV Johannes Kepler has been an important part of the International Space Station since February. Next week, it will complete its mission by undocking and burning up harmlessly in the atmosphere high over an uninhabited area of the Pacific Ocean.
Serving the International Space Station is a valuable job but it will come to a spectacular end: ESA's second Automated Transfer Vehicle, packed with Station rubbish, will deliberately plummet to its destruction on Tuesday in Earth's atmosphere.
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Blobrana · L

ATV Johannes Keplers next reboost for the ISS is set for Thursday, 5 May. The single burn using the vessels Orbit Correction System (OCS - a set of thrusters) is planned for 13:20 CEST and should run 243 seconds.
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Blobrana · L

ATV Johannes Kepler is set to undock from the ISS on 20 June 2011, giving the resupply vessel a longer docked phase than originally foreseen. Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) as part of the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS).
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Blobrana · L

Dosvedanya Mio Bombino: Musical best wishes to astronauts Paolo & Aleksandr for ATV docking

USA-based band Pink Martini have sent in a fantastic video greeting for the entire ISS crew and especially ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli, from Italy, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Kaleri as they get ready for the 24 February 2011 docking of ATV Johannes Kepler.
Lead singer China Forbes sends the group's best wishes and she's dedicated one of their favourite tracks, Dosvedanya Mio Bombino" - a song about Russia and Italy - to the two astronauts in space.

Ed ~ And for those trance heads out there... \o/

Blobrana · L

ATV-2

Blobrana · L

RE: ATV-2 Johannes Kepler

Blobrana · L

Johannes Kepler freighter approaches space station

Europe's sophisticated space freighter, Johannes Kepler, is set to dock with the International Space Station (ISS).
Contact with the Zvezda module on the rear of the ISS is timed for about 1547 GMT.
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Blobrana · L

ATV2- Johannes Kepler is slated to dock to the International Space Station on February 24, 2011.

ATV2 Final approach and docking timeline includes:

16:09 16:41 ATV2 position keeping at 3.5 km distance from ISS
16:41 17:21 Closing
17:21 17:58 ATV2 position keeping at 249 m
17:58 18:21 Approach 1
18:21 18:34 ATV2 position keeping at 19 m
18:34:55 18:37:25 Approach 2
18:37:25 18:42:25 ATV2 position keeping at 11 m
18:42:25 18:45:55 Final Approach
18:45:55 ATV2 Docking to ISS
(18:45:55 + approx. 16min) = 19:01:55 Mating of connectors and closure of hooks

Blobrana · L

ATV-2 is in orbit: What's next?

A very interesting annotated video (no audio) courtesy of ESA TV showing the critical steps taking place now that ATV is in orbit. The video covers the 8-day period from launch on 16 February up to docking, scheduled this week on 24 February.
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