ATV-5 Georges Lemaître night passes

[lajoswinkler]

I'm not sure did anyone here situated in Europe realize that in a few days, we'll be able to see ATV-5 chasing ISS on the night sky. Actually, for some of us, we will have two flyovers in one night exactly one orbit later which will make possible to see how much exactly did they come closer during that time.

Don't miss this opportunity. Check it out at Heavens-above or somewhere else. ATV-5 docks on August 12th, and one night before that some of the countries will be able to see those two passes (some of them only one).

This is the very vehicle that will be deorbited while the camera inside is recording an infrared video showing the destruction.

[NASAFanboy]

Is it just me, or do I find it sad that Europe is ending the ATV program? It was their biggest achievement in the ISS program (Since they can't ferry crew), and I still don't understand the decision to cancel it after only five supply flights. With modifications, the ATV can be used for so much more, so ending it just seems like a big mistake.

[Kryten]

Is it just me, or do I find it sad that Europe is ending the ATV program? It was their biggest achievement in the ISS program (Since they can't ferry crew), and I still don't understand the decision to cancel it after only five supply flights. With modifications, the ATV can be used for so much more, so ending it just seems like a big mistake.

Five flights is their agreed contribution to the program, in exchange for ESA astronaut flights and Columbus. Why would they send up any more? They wouldn't get anything out of it.

[lajoswinkler]

Has anyone seen ATV-5 yet?

[SpaceXray]

I tried seeing it a week ago in Australia and didn't spot it. We'll on the 11 the it'll appear the bright as a star ISS and I plan to take a photo of the double pass.

[Ravenchant]

With modifications, the ATV can be used for so much more, so ending it just seems like a big mistake.

Isn't a derivative going to be used as Orion's service module?

[lajoswinkler]

Report - I've seen both of them few hours ago. ATV-5 is very visible, like a typical star. No problems with locating it on the sky.

[cantab]

Thanks for the heads up, I'll have to look for this.

[Lexif]

Passes tonight should be very interesting as the ATV-5 will pass just 7km below the ISS. The closest approach will be at about midnight CEST, so if you can get a good pass you should really take a look. At 23:10 CEST for example, ATV-5 will trail 10 seconds behind the ISS. Here in Germany, we will get a good pass starting at about 23:24 CEST, when it will be even closer.

Some more infos from ESA: http://blogs.esa.int/atv/2014/08/08/spot-atv-5-iss-together-tonight/

[lajoswinkler]

Lexif, ninja'd.

Yes, it seems that Georges Lamaître ship will do a maneuver burn(s), so we'll get the chance to see a mutual pass tonight. Whether this is a burn that positions them closely together for the next few days until the docking, I don't know, but tonight (Europe) is the chance to see them together.

http://blogs.esa.int/atv/2014/08/07/atv-5-ready-for-iss-fly-under/

[Lexif]

I saw them fly over, it was great! There was quite a distance between them, maybe twenty degrees at the highest point (Zenit)? ATV-5 was easily visible even at a relatively low angle, even with the moon out. What I found most interesting was that the distance between them gave the whole thing a sense of depth as they were approaching my position. I didn't take pictures, as I was at a friend's place.

I remember looking at Mir followed by a Soyuz, and to my surpise, a Progres in front of it that must have undocked before and that wasn't mentioned in the press article that made me look that night. I wish I still knew the date...

Lexif, ninja'd.

Yes, it seems that Georges Lamaître ship will do a maneuver burn(s), so we'll get the chance to see a mutual pass tonight. Whether this is a burn that positions them closely together for the next few days until the docking, I don't know, but tonight (Europe) is the chance to see them together.

http://blogs.esa.int/atv/2014/08/07/atv-5-ready-for-iss-fly-under/

According to the predicted TLEs, ATV-5 will continue to drift away in front of the ISS until the 10th, when it will be moved (at about 5:00 UTC) to a slightly higher orbit. Then, ISS will overtake it again on the 11.8. This will give the eastern US two passes were both are very close together in the sky in the night of the 10.8 to the 11.8. Here in Europe, there will be one good pass on saturday and sunday with both ATV and ISS visible at the same time. On the 11.8 (at about 18:50 UTC), ATV will lower its orbit again to close in on the ISS until rendezvous. That's if everything goes as planned.

Edited August 9, 2014 by Lexif

[Lexif]

Isn't a derivative going to be used as Orion's service module?

I think that's the current plan. And the ATV-5 is testing an autonomous rendezvous system on this mission (hence the flybys of the station) that -- to quote lajoswinkler's ESA-link -- might be usefull for Orion's planned missions or future ESA science probes:

The objective of LIRIS is to test a new suite of navigation sensors, namely visible infrared cameras and a lidar, which will allow future spacecraft to autonomously perform a rendezvous with uncooperative targets such as asteroids or incapacitated spacecraft.

[lajoswinkler]

I've seen it last night, only the first pass, I've missed the second. Maximum separation around 10 degrees. It's true, when the passes are high up, you really get the perception of sky's depth as they change their apparent distance. It's always a nice thing to watch. I remember the shuttles doing that. Much brighter than ATV-5, though.

[Motokid600]

I'm on the east coast of the US and I saw the ISS pass over twice tonight. No ATV though.

[cantab]

Just spotted it myself, about 15 degrees ahead of the station, a really high pass past Arcturus and Vega. Also caught another faint satellite near Altair a few minutes before, and a maybe 2nd mag meteor in the middle of the summer triangle.