ATV MISSION UPDATES

[Notebook]

Nice shots of the ATV, the thrusters firing is quite clear.

N.

 

[agentgonzo]

http://webservices.esa.int/blog/post/1/217 lists all the distances of the S markers as being behind the ISS

 

[Notebook]

Thats what I read, the Google map display is still showing it ahead, I guess it isn't that accurate?

Getting some remarkable shots now.

N.

 

[agentgonzo]

The google maps app will most likely get the TLEs from NASA, which won't have been updated to take into account the current manoeuvres. I'd still have though that the old TLEs wolud have it behind the ISS though

 

[Notebook]

I did wonder how it got its data, I thought it would be an automatic procedure. It's a nice utility anyway.

N.

 

[agentgonzo]

The google maps must be wrong. I've just seen the ATV pass over the tip of South America on the NASATV feed when both ISS and ATV were being tracked as being east of the land (over the ocean). Assuming the track of the ISS is correct (matched up with Nasa's java tracking app) then this can only happen if the ATV is behind the ISS.

 

[Notebook]

Is there an vertical inversion in one of the cameras. In the external camera a radio mast is pointing down, then in the docking camera feed, it is shown pointing up?

N.

 

[agentgonzo]

Quite pretty with it just hanging there off the back of Zvezda. Though it does look a bit like an X-Wing is about to attack the ISS.

 

[simonpro]

The ATV docks from behind (-Vb) but it's standoff position is ahead of the ISS, as explained in one of those links I posted last week.
The ATV has definately been standing off ahead of the ISS though, I have a photo of it doing so from last night

 

[Notebook]

I realised it was initialy ahead of the ISS, my point was the Google maps program showed it ahead of the ISS, not behind. Dosen't matter now, everybodys behind it...

N.

 

[simonpro]

Google maps doesn't have access to elements data, though. As far as I know they rely on space-track, which only updates once per day for things like the ISS.

(edit) The PA guy on NASA TV is a bit quiet, isn't he? Maybe NASA are paying him by the word, and are telling him to help cut the budget

 

[Notebook]

He's quite good though, dosen't talk over the translators, and not too sensationalist or excitable.

Bit like Murray Walker

N.

 

[DaveS]

The PAO is Rob Navias. He has been in the space buisness for over 22 years now.

 

[simonpro]

The PAO is Rob Navias. He has been in the space buisness for over 22 years now.

Probably run out of things to say, then.:beach:
Anyway, all seems to be going well - which is quite a feat with three different control centers trying to cooperate up there.

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

Thanks for the link to the high quality streams. You can now clearly see the ATV cylinder with its solar panels from the ISS cameras on NasaTV, very nice!
It looks like I'll finally be able to see the ATV together with ISS flying over here tonight..

regards,
mcduck

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

I was able to see the real ATV with the naked eye for the first time this evening. It looks spectacular, I thought it would have been even closer to the ISS after it's close approach today, but it's at quite a distance now.

Further I managed to capture an photo during it's pass, these images have a shutter time of 30 seconds.

On the first image, you can see the normal JPG, and it appears you can only see the ISS:

(click to enlarge)


On this 2nd image, I extracted a higher exposure from the raw NEF image,
now you can clearly see (besides some ccd noise) the ATV's strike too:

(click to enlarge)


You can also see the distance between ATV and ISS, because the strike of the ATV starts later (the direction movement was from lower right to upper left).

Now, I wonder why the ATV's strike is longer compared to the strike of the ISS?
How is this possible, it's only 30 seconds captured of the movement of both ISS and ATV?
Shouldn't both strikes have the same length, as the orbits are nearly the same?

regards,
mcduck

 

[simonpro]

Now, I wonder why the ATV's strike is longer compared to the strike of the ISS?
How is this possible, it's only 30 seconds captured of the movement of both ISS and ATV?
Shouldn't both strikes have the same length, as the orbits are nearly the same?

regards,
mcduck

Hmm, I could understand the difference in length if it was upperleft-lowerright, but not the other way around.

Perhaps it is just a question of favourable orientation of the solar panels..

 

[Notebook]

I was able to see the real ATV with the naked eye for the first time this evening. It looks spectacular, I thought it would have been even closer to the ISS after it's close approach today, but it's at quite a distance now.

Further I managed to capture an photo during it's pass, these images have a shutter time of 30 seconds.

On the first image, you can see the normal JPG, and it appears you can only see the ISS:
[image]
(click to enlarge)


On this 2nd image, I extracted a higher exposure from the raw NEF image,
now you can clearly see (besides some ccd noise) the ATV's strike too:

[image]
(click to enlarge)


You can also see the distance between ATV and ISS, because the strike of the ATV starts later (the direction movement was from lower right to upper left).

Now, I wonder why the ATV's strike is longer compared to the strike of the ISS?
How is this possible, it's only 30 seconds captured of the movement of both ISS and ATV?
Shouldn't both strikes have the same length, as the orbits are nearly the same?

regards,
mcduck

Beautifull images, its remarkable you can take shots like that. A unique event.

N.

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

Thanks, Notebook. I might try to take some more during tomorrow's pass.

Perhaps it is just a question of favourable orientation of the solar panels..

I thought of that too, but they gone into the shadow of the earth long after the 30 seconds of the photo (I think about a minute after shutter was shut), so it probably must have another reason (?) ...

regards,
mcduck

 

[simonpro]

Yeah, they definately weren't in shadow, as I saw them here (i guess) about 2 minutes after you.
If it is clewar tonight I will try to grab a picture and see if i get the same effect.