Arianespace… ATV #2’s Final Assembly Actions

[SatNews] The second Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) for servicing of the International Space Station has entered its final assembly and checkout in French Guiana for a liftoff on a future Ariane 5 mission. Ongoing activity is shown in the following images from the Spaceport’s S5 payload processing building, where the ATV is currently located in the S5C high bay — the largest of this facility’s three main preparation halls.

Developed as part of Europe’s contribution to the regular operations of the International Space Station, the ATV is composed of two major elements: the Integrated Cargo Carrier and the Service Module. Shown here is the Service Module, which includes the vehicle’s propulsion and electrical power systems, computers, communications and most of the avionics. Nozzles for its four main engines are visible at the Service Module’s base as it is being maneuvered into position for checkout in the S5C high bay.

The S5C high bay’s large size is underscored in this photo, which shows the ATV’s Service Module and the Integrated Cargo Carrier positioned side-by-side for their assembly and checkout. At left, the Service Module is surrounded by work stands that provide access at various levels. At right, the Integrated Cargo Carrier is ready to receive the ATV’s “nose” section — a part of the docking system — which is being lowered into place by an overhead crane.

Team members monitor the positioning of the ATV’s “nose” section atop the Integrated Cargo Carrier. Included in this element is the Russian-developed docking system, which enables the ATV’s physical, electrical and propellant link-up with the International Space Station. It forms a part of the ATV’s 80 cm.-diameter hatch that provides crewmembers of the International Space Station with access to the Integrated Cargo Carrier’s pressurized interior.

The Integrated Cargo Carrier will carry the dry and fluid cargo for delivery to the International Space Station, and has a maximum upload capacity of 6.6 metric tons. Once the ATV’s Integrated Cargo Carrier and Service Module are assembled together, the spacecraft will have a total overall height of 10.7 meters for installation under Ariane 5’s payload fairing. This second ATV is named after German astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler, and it incorporates numerous design updates from the no. 1 ATV Jules Verne, which was launched by Ariane 5 in March 2008.