An interesting and useful information kit is available at: http://www.esa.int/esaMI/ATV/SEM0OT22VBF_0.html However the launch kit is still required as it contains information not in the above kit. Some highlights: The Aestus firing will occur near SouthEastern Australia, with separation close to New Zealand. The launch kit makes mention of a ground station at Awarua in the south of the South Island of New Zealand. You may recall that there was mention in the press of a ground station being built especially for the ATV. I have seen nothing further but am aware there is or was a (I believe marine) radio station at Awarua so perhaps the ground station has been set up there? The firing, separation and the deorbit burn will occur in daylight here, As mentioned by Ted the Aestus stage will be de-orbited on the second orbit and dropped into the South Pacific (I hope they aim right :-) The ATV will (as Kevin mentions) attain an initial orbit of 260 km. It will conduct a series of automatic manoeuvres to eventually achieve the orbital height of the ISS. It will park 2000 km from the ISS in order to keep out of the way of the Shuttle and to test the ATV's ability to hold position. There will be two "demo days" on March 29 and 31 when the ATV approaches the ISS then withdraws, followed by the actual docking on 3 April. We have a reasonable chance of morning visibility of the craft, but I have seen nothing as yet indicating the times of demo and rendezvous- hopefully these will become available closer to the time. The ATV will eventually be deorbited in the South Pacific. An exciting and interesting mission with hopefully some great opportunities for observation. Robert Holdsworth Wainuiomata New Zealand 174.948E 41.261S ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kevin Fetter" <kfetter@yahoo.com> To: <seesat-l@satobs.org> Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 1:26 PM Subject: launch kit for ATV > The launch kit for the ATV flight, is available from Arianespace > > http://www.arianespace.com/site/news/news_sub_launchkit_index.html > > The ATV after seperation from the upper stage, they say will be in a a > circular orbit at an > altitude of 260 kilometers. > > After ATV seperation, the upperstage will be deorbited. > > I look forward to observing it, and getting one are more passes on video. > > Kevin > > > Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane with All new > Yahoo! Mail: http://ca.promos.yahoo.com/newmail/overview2/ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: > http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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