Albert Einstein ATV
{{Short description|2013 European resupply spaceflight to the ISS}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Albert Einstein ATV}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Albert Einstein ATV
| image = ATV-4 "Albert Einstein" approaching the ISS.jpg
| image_caption = ATV-4 Albert Einstein approaching the Zvezda Service Module on 15 June 2013
| insignia = ATV-AlbertEinstein logo.png
| mission_type = ISS resupply
| operator = European Space Agency
| COSPAR_ID = 2013-027A
| SATCAT = 39175
| mission_duration = {{time interval|2013-06-05|2013-11-02|show=m}}
| spacecraft_type = ATV
| manufacturer = EADS Astrium
Thales Alenia Space
| dry_mass =
| launch_mass = {{convert|20190|kg|lb}}
| launch_date = {{start-date|5 June 2013, 21:52:11|timezone=yes}} UTC{{cite web |publisher=ESA| title=ATV-4 scheduled for summer liftoff | url= http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/ATV/ATV-4_scheduled_for_summer_liftoff | date=11 April 2013 | access-date=14 April 2013}}{{cite web |publisher=ESA| title=Europe's heaviest cargo ship launched to Space Station | url= http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/ATV/Europe_s_heaviest_cargo_ship_launched_to_Space_Station | date=5 June 2013 | access-date=6 June 2013}}
| launch_rocket = Ariane 5ES
| launch_contractor = Arianespace
| disposal_type = Deorbited
| decay_date = 2 November 2013, 12:04 UTC
| orbit_epoch =
| orbit_reference = Geocentric
| orbit_regime = Low Earth
| orbit_periapsis =
| orbit_apoapsis =
| orbit_inclination = 51.6 degrees
| orbit_period =
| apsis = gee
| docking =
{{Infobox spaceflight/Dock
| docking_target = ISS
| docking_type = dock
| docking_port = Zvezda Aft
| docking_date = 15 June 2013, 14:07 UTC
| undocking_date = 28 October 2013, 08:55 UTC
| time_docked = 134 days, 18 hours, 48 minutes
}}
| cargo_mass = {{convert|6590|kg|lb}}
| cargo_mass_press =
| cargo_mass_fuel =
| cargo_mass_gas =
| cargo_mass_water =
| previous_mission = ATV-3
| next_mission = ATV-5
}}
The Albert Einstein ATV, or Automated Transfer Vehicle 004 (ATV-004), was a European uncrewed cargo resupply spacecraft, named after the German-born physicist Albert Einstein.{{cite web |publisher=ESA| title=ATV-4 to carry name Albert Einstein | url= http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMKZDNSNNG_index_0.html | date=26 May 2011 | access-date=19 June 2011}} It was built to supply the International Space Station (ISS) with propellant, water, air, and dry cargo, and also to reboost the station's altitude with its thrusters. It was the fourth and penultimate ATV to be built, following the Edoardo Amaldi, which was launched in March 2012. Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was launched on an Ariane 5ES rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana at 21:52:11 UTC on 5 June 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/ATV/Europe_s_heaviest_cargo_ship_launched_to_Space_Station|title=Europe's Heaviest Cargo Ship Launched to Space Station|publisher=ESA|date=6 June 2013|access-date=6 June 2013}} The launch was conducted by Arianespace on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA). At the time of its launch, Albert Einstein was the heaviest spacecraft ever launched to orbit by an Ariane rocket, with a total mass of {{convert|20190|kg|lb}}. The ATV docked successfully with the ISS at 14:07 UTC (16:07 CEST) on 15 June 2013.{{cite web|title=Europe's largest spaceship reaches its orbital port|url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/ATV/Europe_s_largest_spaceship_reaches_its_orbital_port|publisher=ESA|date=15 June 2013|access-date=15 June 2013}} After a successful five-month mission, Albert Einstein re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and was destroyed, as planned, on 2 November 2013.[http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/ATV/A_fiery_end_to_a_perfect_mission_ATV_Albert_Einstein "A fiery end to a perfect mission: ATV Albert Einstein (2013)"]. ESA. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
Mission payload
The Albert Einstein supplied the ISS with dry cargo, fuel, water and air to ensure the continued operation of the station. In addition, the ATV used its own thrusters and fuel supply to reboost the ISS, to counteract the drag the residual atmosphere imposes on the station. The total cost of the Albert Einstein mission was approximately 450 million euros.{{cite web|url=http://download.esa.int/HSO/ATV/esa_atv-4_mission_factsheet_18042013.pdf|format=PDF|title=Fact Sheet – ATV Albert Einstein|publisher=ESA|date=18 April 2013|access-date=16 June 2013}}
At the time of its launch, the Albert Einstein held the record for:
- Most dry cargo launched in any European spacecraft – {{convert|2480|kg}};
- Most diverse cargo mix aboard a spacecraft – 1,400 different items;
- Largest quantity of late cargo (cargo added only two weeks before launch, while Albert Einstein was already mated to the top of the Ariane 5 rocket) – {{convert|620|kg}}.
A full cargo breakdown is provided in the following table:
| class="wikitable" |
| Cargo
! Mass |
|---|
| ISS reboost/attitude control propellant | {{convert|2580|kg}} |
| ISS refuel propellant | {{convert|860|kg}} |
| Water (for Russian Segment)
| {{convert|570|kg}} |
| Gas (1 tank O2, 2 tanks air)
| {{convert|100|kg}} |
| Dry cargo (food, clothes, equipment) | {{convert|2480|kg}} |
| Total
| {{convert|6590|kg}} |
: Source: ESA
Mission summary
=Launch=
Albert Einstein arrived at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, in September 2012. It was launched successfully on an Ariane 5ES rocket at 21:52:11 UTC (23:52:11 CEST) on 5 June 2013.
=Cruise=
After launch, Albert Einstein spent ten days conducting orbital manoeuvres before docking with the ISS. This time frame was chosen for logistical rather than technological reasons – the ATV is capable of docking with the station five days after launch, as demonstrated by the Edoardo Amaldi ATV in 2012, but the launch from Kourou could not occur later, as the launch pad was required for subsequent commercial launches. In addition, docking with the ISS could not occur before 11 June, as the Zvezda port (where the Albert Einstein docked) was occupied by Progress 51. After Progress 51 departed on 11 June, cameras on the ISS checked the Zvezda docking port to ensure that no damage was caused when Progress 51 docked with the station, as it had a stuck navigation antenna which could have potentially damaged the docking port.[http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition36/e36_060513_atvlaunch.html "European Cargo Ship Launches to Station, Science for Station Crew"]. NASA. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.[http://www.space.com/21454-europe-albert-einstein-atv-launch.html "'Albert Einstein' in Space: Europe Launches Cargo Spacecraft Named for Scientist"]. Space.com. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.[http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition36/e36_061113.html "Resupply Craft Undocks, New Supply Vehicle Due June 15"]. NASA. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013. No damage to the docking port was detected, and so the ATV's docking proceeded as planned.[http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition36/e36_atv34_dock.html "“Albert Einstein” Delivers Gear to Expedition 36 Crew"]. NASA. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
=Docking=
The ATV docked successfully with the ISS at 14:07 UTC (16:07 CEST) on 15 June 2013 and the hatch was opened on 18 June.[http://blogs.esa.int/atv/2013/06/18/first-days-after-the-arrival-of-atv-4/ "First days after the arrival of ATV-4"] ESA. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013. The hatch opening was delayed by a day due to concerns raised by Roscosmos that the cargo had not been disinfected satisfactorily.{{cite web |url=http://www.space.com/21637-space-station-cargo-ship-mold.html |title=Fungus Among Us? Mold Concerns Delay Space Station Cargo Ship's Opening |website=Space.com |date=19 June 2013 |access-date=20 June 2013 }}
=Reboost and docked operations=
On 19 June 2013, Albert Einstein conducted its first reboost of the ISS, performing a 407-second burn which provided a delta-v change of 1.0 m/s to the station.[http://blogs.esa.int/atv/2013/06/19/atv-conducts-first-reboost-for-the-international-space-station/ "ATV conducts first reboost for the International Space Station"]. ESA. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013. A further reboost was undertaken on 10 July 2013, where a burn of just less than 10 minutes provided a delta-v change of 1.45 m/s; this operation consumed {{convert|199|kg|lb}} of propellant.[http://blogs.esa.int/atv/2013/07/10/atv-4s-first-iss-reboost-complete/ "ATV-4′s first ISS reboost complete"]. ESA. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013. By 12 July 2013, all the dry cargo had been unloaded from Albert Einstein, allowing the ATV to be filled with waste for removal from the station.[http://blogs.esa.int/atv/2013/07/15/atv-4-mission-report-12-july/#more-8331 "ATV-4 mission report 12 July"]. ESA. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
On 23 and 28 July Albert Einstein suffered a transient fault with two of its three computers, numbers 2 and 3. While only a single computer was required to operate the ATV, two out of the three were required for any "mission critical" operations. However, by 29 July a restart had been performed on both units, bringing all three of the ATV's computers back on-line without impacting the mission schedule.{{cite web|title=Successful restart of the ATV computers|url=http://blogs.esa.int/atv/2013/07/30/successful-restart-of-the-atv-computers/|publisher=ESA|access-date=31 July 2013|date=30 July 2013}} Transfer of fuel and oxidiser from the ATV to the Russian segment of the ISS took place on 1 August 2013 in an operation that took approximately 1.5 hours; this fuel allowed the ISS to adjust its orbit in the absence of docked vessels to perform reboosts. The pipelines were then purged to avoid any complications during Albert Einstein's undocking from the ISS.{{cite web|title=Today's fuel transfer to ISS complete|url=http://blogs.esa.int/atv/2013/08/01/todays-fuel-transfer-to-iss-complete/|publisher=ESA|access-date=5 August 2013|date=1 August 2013}}
=End of mission and deorbit=
Albert Einstein undocked safely from the ISS at 08:55 UTC (09:55 CET) on 28 October 2013; it then conducted a series of orbital adjustments to allow the ISS astronauts to clearly observe its re-entry. On 2 November, it re-entered Earth's atmosphere and burnt up, along with a payload of ISS waste, over the Pacific Ocean.
ATV missions
{{ATV missions}}
References
{{reflist|33em}}
External links
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
- [http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/ATV/ATV-4_i_Albert_Einstein_i ATV 4 official site], [http://esamultimedia.esa.int/HSO/Publications/ATV4-EN/ mission brochure] and [http://blogs.esa.int/atv/ mission blog] via ESA.
{{Automated Transfer Vehicles}}
{{Uncrewed ISS flights}}
{{European Space Agency}}
{{Orbital launches in 2013}}
{{Albert Einstein}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2014}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:ATV-004}}
Category:Automated Transfer Vehicles
Category:Spacecraft launched in 2013
Category:Spacecraft which reentered in 2013
Category:Supply vehicles for the International Space Station