ATV-4 docked (tracking)

[Lexif]

Soon, ATV-4 will dock to the ISS, so I took the chance today to see them both at the same time as the ATV is closing in on the ISS. (The orbital predictions for the ATV were not reliable as the orbital data are not updated as frequently.) I was out with some friends when the better pass came, so I enjoyed the show with them and didn't take pictures. The second pass was quite low on the horizon, but I managed to take a picture with the ISS and the ATV in the same frame, just as the ISS entered the earth's shadow! The ATV is very faintly visible, you have to view it in full size:

http://i.imgur.com/zYG043q.jpg

I also made a composite of four shots spanning a bit more than two minutes. The gaps in the traces are the time between shots, the star trails are caused by the earth's rotation. There's also a plane passing through.

http://i.imgur.com/wtt2rE2.jpg

Maybe we can watch the docking live tomorrow in some stream?

[deadshot462]

Nice pictures Lexil, I'll see if there is a chance of an overpass of my area of both vehicles.

[Lexif]

Thanks! I just checked out New York and San Francisco, it seems the former will get a pass similar to the one in the pictures, with a highest elevation of about 25°. For the west coast it seems to be much worse -- about 10°--15°.

[Sᴄɪɴᴛɪʟʟᴀᴛᴏʀ]

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html?param=public

Docking is today at 9:46 a.m. ET

[nothke]

Ooooh, ATV is so flaaaaashy... xD

Edited June 15, 2013 by nothke

[nothke]

I think they should use mechjeb autodocking cause this is way to slooow!

(just kidding xD)

[Flixxbeatz]

and I thought I dock things too slow already...

[1001sd]

Aaaand, they're docked now.

And wow, NASA is slow to dock

[Sᴄɪɴᴛɪʟʟᴀᴛᴏʀ]

Aaaand, they're docked now.

And wow, NASA is slow to dock

Well NASA can't just quickload if they smash some solar panels.

Edited June 15, 2013 by Sᴄɪɴᴛɪʟʟᴀᴛ�ʀ

[1001sd]

Well NASA can't just quickload if they smash of some solar panels.

Yeah, you're right. And they have a very limited amount of propellant to move their craft. And for some reason NASA don't like smashed solar panels

[firerider521]

Yeah, you're right. And they have a very limited amount of propellant to move their craft. And for some reason NASA don't like smashed solar panels

Weirdos. Who doesn't?

[nothke]

Yeah, you're right. And they have a very limited amount of propellant to move their craft. And for some reason NASA don't like smashed solar panels

Less so propellant, you could have a much faster dock with almost the same amount of propellant spent. Actually they spend even more than optimal cause they stop all the time.

If you look how they dock it's like..100 meters, check data, lidar, systems, give a go, 60 meters, check data, lidar, systems, give a go, 40 meters, stop, check data, lidar, systems, give a go.. and so on until the last milimiter.. They needed half an hour to just turn on the capture mechanism after docking, just to make sure something isn't going wrong inside the drogue. So safety is a primary concern. You know when they'll enter the ATV?? ON TUESDAY! xD

It fascinated me they waited for few minutes after contact for the station to dampen the impact waves!!! AND WE ARE ALWAYS COMPLAINING ABOUT WOBBLY DOCKING!?!? Not only we have that problem xD

Edited June 15, 2013 by nothke

[nothke]

First ingress

[Tommygun]

I guess I just assumed they where going to use the robotic arm to bring it into the station.

After seeing that video of the interior of the ATV, I have a sudden urge to organize my house.

Maybe if I Velcro stuff to the ceiling I can get all the junk off the floor.

[Henri von Braun]

I guess I just assumed they where going to use the robotic arm to bring it into the station.

After seeing that video of the interior of the ATV, I have a sudden urge to organize my house.

Maybe if I Velcro stuff to the ceiling I can get all the junk off the floor.

Now where did I park my car agai...BUNK. Ouch, oh hey, here it is, on the ceiling !

[nothke]

After seeing that video of the interior of the ATV, I have a sudden urge to organize my house.

Maybe if I Velcro stuff to the ceiling I can get all the junk off the floor.

Well, when ATV departs it will be one huge trash container.. You won't have that much of a tidy up urge when you see this:

Unfortunately, no trash compactors up there so just push as much as you can xD

BTW it would be really nice to have a room in the house and then just detach it and blow it up when you fill it up with garbage xD

Edited June 19, 2013 by nothke