I have located more information on Awarua, so although OT this corrects my earlier post. As was indicated in the earlier press release, a ground station has been purpose built at that location for the ATV. Here is further information for those interested: http://www.stuff.co.nz/southlandtimes/4426706a6568.html (note that the article will eventually be archived and available to subscribed readers only.) http://www.listener.co.nz/issue/3482/columnists/8033/worth_the_trek.html It seems that New Zealand is getting well and truly on the map and involved in the space industry. To get back closer to topic, I have located the following page of preflight briefing materials which gives more information on the phasing part of the mission (the phasing phase?) and the demonstrations as well as the docking. Some of the dates are out of date so need to be read in the context of the information kit I referred to in my earlier email: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/atv_pfb_013108.html The launch will be broadcast at: http://www.videocorner.tv/index.php?langue=en De-orbit of the ATV is scheduled for August. Robert > > 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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