Updates ESA's ATV-2 "Johannes Kepler"

[Orbinaut Pete]

Roscosmos PAO: "Russian MCC Ready for ATV-2 Operations".

ISS RS flight directors met in the MCC yesterday to analyze the results of the personnel training on operations with European cargo spaceship ATV-2. The directors decided on readiness of the MCC ops people to control the mission.
According to preliminary data, ATV2 Johannes Kepler is slated for launch from Kourou in French Guiana on Feb. 16, at 01:13:26 Moscow time (Feb 15, 22:13:26 GMT).
The ATV is planned to dock to the ISS Zvezda’s docking compartment on Feb. 23, at 18:20:47 Moscow time (15:20:47 GMT).
The cargo vehicle will deliver various cargo for the ISS crew. While attached to the station, ATV is planned to perform several reboost operations.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

NASA TV Video: ATV-2 Interview with Michael Suffredini.​

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e2TCdbbo-I"]YouTube - ATV2 Interview with Michael Suffredini[/ame]

 

[Notebook]

Arianespace has updated their videoCorner link:

ARIANESPACE FLIGHT 200 - ATV-2 “Johannes Kepler”
THE LAUNCH READINESS REVIEW (RAL) took place in Kourou on Sunday, February 13 and authorized count-down operations for the ATV-2 “Johannes Kepler” launch.

For its first mission of the year, Arianespace will launch the first Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), dubbed “Johannes Kepler”, for the European Space Agency (ESA). Right from this first launch, the ATV will play a vital role in bringing supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).

The choice of Arianespace by leading space communications operators and manufacturers is clear international recognition of the company’s excellence in launch services.
It will be launched from the Ariane launch complex N° 3 (ELA3), in Kourou, French Guiana.

THE ARIANE 5 ECA LAUNCHER LIFT-OFF for this flight is scheduled on February 15, 2011 at a precise instant:

http://www.videocorner.tv/index.htm

N.

 

[orb]

Arianespace: Ariane’s 200th launch is given the green light for liftoff with the Johannes Kepler Automated Transfer Vehicle.

ESA: Watch the launch of ATV Johannes Kepler live:

ESA’s second Automated Transfer Vehicle will be launched tomorrow, 15 February, at 22:13:27 GMT (23:13:27 CET) by an Ariane 5 from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou to deliver essential supplies and reboost the International Space Station. Watch the streaming from Kourou at www.esa.int/atv.

The Ariane 5 launcher is being moved today on its mobile launch table from the Final Assembly Building to the ELA-3 Ariane launch complex.

After completing this 2.8-km journey, the rocket is ready for fuelling and final launch preparations. According to mission planning, ATV-2 will dock with the Space Station on Wednesday, 23 February, and remain in orbit for almost four months.

Click on the image to enlarge​

The Ariane 5 ES launcher, on its mobile launch table, ready to leave the Final Assembly Building (BAF), where it was mated with its payload, the ATV Kepler...

Credits: ESA - S. Corvaja​

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

We are now only 23 hours 50 minutes away from the launch of ATV-2!

Just a reminder, be sure to follow ESA's ATV-2 Blog for some great updates!

 

[orb]

Arianespace:

• Ariane 5 is in the launch zone for its February 15 mission with Europe's second Automated Transfer Vehicle

Spaceflight Now:

• Ariane 5 rocket to launch European cargo craft
• Ariane 5 moves to launch pad (PHOTO GALLERY)

 

[IronRain]

Watch and enjoy

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24-5_2lZKGk&feature=feedu"]YouTube - Making of ATV-2[/ame]

 

[N_Molson]

That's going to be a big delivery for the ISS

---------- Post added at 09:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:31 PM ----------

Live video feed available in less than 30 minutes :

http://www.videocorner.tv/videocorner2/live_flv/index.php?langue=en

Available both in French & in English.

 

[IronRain]

Question; ATV-1 was tested in the Netherlands (Solar panels if I remember correctly). Was ATV-2 also test in the Netherlands?

 

[fsci123]

Thank god for nasa tv im watching this live.

 

[IronRain]

Ariane webcast online!

question (again); Why are the yellow arms already retracted?

EDIT: Never Mind, I already see why

 

[N_Molson]

Countdown stopped at T-4. There was no launch window, since then the launch is scrubbed for today.

The anomaly comes from the "launch stack" (ensemble de lancement).

Some sensors got wrong data about the cryogenic tanks filling levels.

There will be a second attempt tomorrow, about the same hour.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

That's an automatic one-day delay to STS-133.

 

[Urwumpe]

question (again); Why are the yellow arms already retracted?

EDIT: Never Mind, I already see why

For all others with the same question: No cryogen upper stage, so the arms for replenishing liquid hydrogen there are not needed. :lol:

 

[Scruce]

Noooo they posponed it :thumbsdown:

 

[Gerdih]

Ariane webcast online!

question (again); Why are the yellow arms already retracted?

EDIT: Never Mind, I already see why

Why?

EDIT:Sorry I dont have seen the Urwumpe answer

 

[orbitingpluto]

Darn! This was the first time I remembered to watch a launch live.

 

[N_Molson]

Noooo they posponed it

Well, a one-day postpone is better than having an ATV2 burning over the indian ocean, caused by a unfilled tank...

That kind of event is common in modern rocketry, where the wise motto is "better safe than sorry".

---------- Post added at 10:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:16 PM ----------

Ariane 5 blastoff scrubbed minutes before launch

Launch of the European Space Agency's automated cargo freighter for the International Space Station was scrubbed four minutes before liftoff by a technical issue with the Ariane 5 rocket's fueling system. European officials hope to try again Wednesday at 2150 GMT (4:50 p.m. EST) if the problem can be resolved.

 

[Kyle]

Automatic 1 day delay to STS-133. February 25th now.

 

[N_Molson]

From Arianespace :

Ariane 5’s mission with the Automated Transfer Vehicle is postponed

February 15, 2011 – Ariane Flight 200

Tonight’s Ariane 5 mission with Europe’s second Automated Transfer Vehicle has been postponed following a hold during the final countdown at the Spaceport in French Guiana.

A “red” indication for the launch site stopped the countdown at just prior to 4 minutes before the scheduled liftoff.

Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall said that according to initial indications, there was erroneous data concerning the launcher’s fueling, which resulted in the hold.

As this mission has a precise launch slot, the hold forced tonight’s postponement.

Additional information will be posted when available.