'); dar = new Array; uar = new Array; dar[0] = new Image(); dar[0].src = imgdir + '/arw15.gif'; uar[0] = new Image(); uar[0].src = imgdir + '/dar15.gif'; dar[1] = new Image(); dar[1].src = imgdir + '/arw15wh.gif'; uar[1] = new Image(); uar[1].src = imgdir + '/dar15wh.gif'; } function mopen(i, fo) { if (!ma) return; var men = document.getElementById('menu_' + i); var imm = document.images['mimg_' + i]; var sep = document.getElementById('sepa_' + i); var ell = document.getElementById('elli_' + i); if (fo || men.style.display != 'block') { if (sep) sep.style.display = 'none'; men.style.display = 'block'; imm.src = uar[1].src; ell.style.visibility = 'hidden'; } else { men.style.display = 'none'; if (sep) sep.style.display = 'block'; imm.src = dar[1].src; ell.style.visibility = 'visible'; } }; function mopen1(i, j, c, fo) { if (!ma) return; var men = document.getElementById('menu_' + i + '_' + j); var imm = document.images['mimg_' + i + '_' + j]; var ell = document.getElementById('elli_' + i + '_' + j); if (fo || men.style.display != 'block') { men.style.display = 'block'; imm.src = uar[c].src; ell.style.visibility = 'hidden'; } else { men.style.display = 'none'; imm.src = dar[c].src; ell.style.visibility = 'visible'; } } function mopen2(i, j, k, c, fo) { if (!ma) return; var men = document.getElementById('menu_' + i + '_' + j + '_' + k); var imm = document.images['mimg_' + i + '_' + j + '_' + k]; var ell = document.getElementById('elli_' + i + '_' + j + '_' + k); if (fo || men.style.display != 'block') { men.style.display = 'block'; imm.src = uar[c].src; ell.style.visibility = 'hidden'; } else { men.style.display = 'none'; imm.src = dar[c].src; ell.style.visibility = 'visible'; } }
ESAATVInternational Space StationHuman Spaceflight and Exploration
   
 
Mission
 
 
 
 
 
 
Spacecraft
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operations
 
 
 
 
 
Industry
 
 
 
 
Downloads
 
 
 
 
 
Multimedia gallery
 
 
 
 
 
Services
 
 
Search
 
 
All
Human Spaceflight and Exploration
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Article Images
Jules Verne demonstrates flawless Collision Avoidance Manoeuvre
 
14 March 2008

Artist's impression of ESA's ATV
Download:
 HI RES JPG (Size: 1006 kb)
The Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) is the first fully automatic re-supply spacecraft of its kind. ESA's Jules Verne ATV is the first European space supplier for the ISS. Its launch is scheduled on 9 March from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Credits: ESA - D.Ducros
 
 
ESA's ATV-CC


Credits: ESA
 
 
Download:
 HI-RES WMV (Size: 1600 kb)
If Europe’s Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) encounters difficulties during rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS), some highly sophisticated software will be on-hand to take over operations and avoid a potentially dangerous situation.

Upon detection of a critical failure or an unsafe situation, the Monitoring and Safing Unit (MSU) isolates the ATV’s nominal system and commands a Collision Avoidance Manoeuvre (CAM). This brings the ATV on a safe trajectory within the monitoring corridor towards the ISS. Once the Collision Avoidance Manoeuvre is completed, the MSU points the vehicle towards the Sun, thus ensuring sufficient power from the solar panels during the ‘survival’ mode that the vehicle enters.

Credits: EADS

 
 
   
   
 
Related articles
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Related links
 
 
 
 
Related ESApod
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Copyright 2000 - 2008 © European Space Agency. All rights reserved.