RE: ATV flight mode

From: Erkenswick, Tom M. (JSC-DM3) (tom.m.erkenswick@nasa.gov)
Date: Wed Mar 12 2008 - 12:43:56 UTC

  • Next message: Russell Eberst: "2008MAR11.OBS"

     
    John, per this link that Daniel Deak posted to the list on March 8, http://www.astrium.eads.net/static/atv-information-en.pdf, two items that appear to apply to your question:
    Page 17: the aft sides of arrays appear to be the power-producing sides
    Page 46: "Then ATV goes to an attitude control mode that steers its attitude along its yaw axis to keep at the same time solar arrays exposed to the sun and the TDRS antenna pointed appropriately."
    
    This should mean that the ATV rotates between solar arrays forward at orbital sunrise, and solar arrays aft at orbital sunset.  So for your morning pass, the solar arrays should be forward as you observed. 
    
    Tom
    
    
    
    -----Original Message-----
    From: John Locker [mailto:john@satcom.freeserve.co.uk] 
    Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 6:28 AM
    To: SeeSat-L@satobs.org
    Subject: ATV flight mode
    
    Media images and animations of ATV 1  in flight show the spacecrfat 
    travelling docking port forward , solar panels aft.
    
    However I get the impression from images I took on Tuesday morning that it 
    is moving with docking port aft...solar panels forward.
    This might make sense I suppose as the thrusters could then be used as a 
    breaking mechanism in the long approach to ISS , Then ATV would be reversed 
    for docking mode....although as it is some time before the practice docking 
    runs are due to take place , I suspect there is another reason.
    
    Anyone have any ideas ?
    
    Thanks,
    
    John
    
    
    
    Any images attached are subject to copyright restriction
    but may be used with prior permission 
    
    
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