ISS Fan Club

Here all info from ESA news WEB about the next docking of ATV-1 to ISS.
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Three steps to ATV docking
"The spacecraft is functioning perfectly, the team is very well trained and we are looking forward to an excellent first docking attempt on 3 April. It will be complex, but after our successful launch and early orbit phase, and the transfer to the parking orbit, the entire team here on the ground has gained a lot of confidence in themselves and in Jules Verne," says Alberto Novelli, ESA's Mission Director at the ATV Control Centre (ATV-CC) in Toulouse, France.
The ATV's automated Collision Avoidance Manoeuvre (CAM) capability was successfully tested in-flight on 14 March, and other functions of the sophisticated docking control system will be tested in two Demonstration Days, on 29 and 31 March. The manoeuvres are planned using a series of way-points and station points in the vicinity of the ISS, indicated as S-1, S0, S1, S2, and so on, which map out a complex series of dynamic orbital trajectories and zones.
Demonstration Day 1 - 29 March - 15:19 CET
The main purpose of Demo Day 1 is to test the ATV's Guidance & Navigation System; the test will be commanded from ATV-CC. This is expected to show that the ATV can perform relative navigation with the ISS using relative GPS (global positioning satellites) to successfully and safely manoeuvre ATV to station point S2, located 3500 m behind the ISS and at the same orbital altitude.

After Demo Day 1, the results will be assessed by the ESA JADOR (Jules Verne ATV Demonstration Objectives Report) team and submitted to the ISS Mission Management Team; after an assessment and authorisation on 30 March, ATV can proceed to Demo Day 2.

Demonstration Day 2 - 31 March - 14:46 CEST

The main purpose of Demo Day 2 is to test the Close Range Sensors and ATV's Guidance & Navigation System; the test will also include practising contingency procedures commanded by ATV-CC and by the ISS crew, as well as ATV close proximity manoeuvring. ATV will be commanded to close to S4, 12 m from the docking port of Zvezda (the ISS Russian Service Module), then go back to S4, and finally an 'Escape' manoeuvre will be commanded to take ATV away from and around the ISS and back to station point S1.

Once ATV has been assessed as fully ready for docking, the first attempt is scheduled to be made for 3 April.

Docking - 3 April - 16:41 CEST

The docking procedure will begin at 13:44 CEST, with ATV starting from station point S3, 250 m from the ISS. The ATV computers will use use Videometer and Telegoniometer data for an automated final approach and docking. ATV will slow down to 7 cm/second as it closes to within a few metres of the Russian module. ATV-CC mission controllers will direct the ATV in a step-by-step predefined approach, and will seek authorisation from the Russian Mission Control Centre in Moscow (MCC-M) before final contact.

At all stages, the ISS crew will be deeply involved. Their tasks will include control and monitoring of the ATV during Demo Day 1, 2 and docking, preparation of the Russian module for docking and issuing specific ATV commands, such as Abort, Hold, Retreat or Escape, when requested.
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From italian blog "Le Scienze" of specialist Mrs. Lilli - Astronauts Training Center C/ESA (European Space Agency) in Cologne.

Alcuni dati piu’ precisi per i Demo days 1 e 2.
DD1: The first Demonstration day aims to check that ATV can perform relative navigation with the ISS, using relative GPS successfully, and safely manoeuvre the ATV to the S2 station keeping point, located 3.5 km behind the ISS, at the same orbital altitude. A test of the escape manoeuvre – similar to the CAM – will also be done (statement ESA).
ATV si posizionera’ attraverso le manovre di ieri e oggi nello Station Keeping point denominato S-1/2 (39 km dietro la Stazione e 5 km piu’ in basso) da dove comincera’ l’avvicinamento. Da li’ effettuera’ i seguenti spostamenti in sequenza:
- S0 (30 km dietro e 5 km sotto)
- S1 (15.5 km dietro e 5 km sotto)
- S2 (3.5 km dietro e 100 m sopra)
Questo e’ il punto piu’ vicino alla Stazione che raggiungera’ durante il DD1, da dove la crew lancera’ alcuni comandi di test e ATVCC comandera’ un’Escape manouver che lo riportera’ a S-1/2.

DD2: The second Demonstration day tests ATV’s close proximity manoeuvring and control, including testing contingency manoeuvres for ATV-CC and the ISS crew. ATV will manoeuvre to within 12 metres of the docking port located on Zvezda, the Russian Service Module of the ISS (statement ESA).
ATV ripete tutte le manovre effettuate nel DD1 e continua nell’avvicinamento:
- S-1/2 (39 km dietro la Stazione e 5 km piu’ in basso)
- S0 (30 km dietro e 5 km sotto)
- S1 (15.5 km dietro e 5 km sotto)
- S2 (3.5 km dietro e 100 m sopra)
- S3 (249 m dietro)
- S4 (19 m dietro)
- S41(11 m dietro)
A partire dai 500 m. la telecamera localizzata sul SM viene accesa e la crew inizia a vedere e monitorare l’approccio di ATV sul Simvol display oltre che sul laptop. A S41 la crew manda il comando di Retreat che lo riporta a S4 e da qui lancia il comando di Escape che lo riporta a S-1/2 (punto di partenza).

DD3 (docking day): Si ripete tutta la sequenza, S41 e’ l’ultimo Station Keeping point, l’unica differenza e’ che il a questo punto si avra’ il GO for docking (si spera!) e si procedera’ fino al contatto. Hurra’ (mi aspetto fiumi di vodka e di champagne….!!!!!)

March 31, Monday NASA.TV
10 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. - Coverage of the “Jules Verne” Automated Transfer Vehicle’s Second Demonstration Test Approach to the International Space Station (Closest Approach to 36 feet scheduled at approximately 12:30 p.m.) - JSC (Public and Media Channels)

Good luck to ATV-1 !!

I hope to do something pleasing to all these informations (sorry for my english).

73'
I7PQD Op. MIchele