The Automated Transfer Vehicle – Evolution for ISS, Human Spaceflight and Exploration
- Paper number
IAC-08.D2.3.2
- Author
Mr. John Ellwood, The Netherlands
- Year
2008
- Abstract
The Automated Transfer Vehicle – Evolution for ISS, Human Spaceflight and Exploration John ELLWOOD, European Space Agency Nicolas CHAMUSSY, EADS Astrium Mark KINNERSLEY, EADS Astrium john.ellwood@esa.int, ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, Noordwijk, The Netherlands With the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), Europe has now available a large cargo vehicle able to transfer of freight, propellant and consumables to the International Space Station (ISS). According to current plans, the logistics of the ISS will change dramatically in 2010 when the Space Shuttle will be terminated. As a consequence, returning cargo to Earth will be limited to only a few tens of kilograms of payload with the Russian Soyuz capsules. It is therefore possible to imagine in this post-Shuttle context a series of Evolution of the European Space Agency's ATV. One possibility is to take advantage of the internal available volume of the ATV and equip the vehicle with a small ejectable capsule able to return a cargo payload to the Earth at the end of the ATV mission. This small capsule could bring back a few tens of kilograms of valuable scientific or experimental samples. Another approach could be more radical and involve the replacement of the ATV Integrated Cargo Carrier by a large cargo re-entry capsule able to bring back hundreds of kg of cargo. Such project could make use of the flight proven concept of ESA's Atmospheric Re-entry Demonstrator (ARD) capsule. Ultimately this large cargo return system could even evolve into a crew return capability for the ISS, opening the way to a human transportation capability to Europe. This re-entry capability is an example of the possible evolutions of the ATV. Other evolutions which have been investigated in the past include the possibility to service the US segment of the ISS, the capability to carry large unpressurized payload to the ISS, or the use of the ATV as a safe haven or a free flying experiments platform which could complement or augment the ISS capabilities. Ultimately, the ATV could provide the backbone of a European or international mini space station in Low Earth Orbit which could maintain human presence in orbit beyond the ISS. In the post-ISS context, with a focus on exploration, ATV will be a toolbox of equipment and technologies. It could provide the basis for many derivatives including vehicles to aid assembly of large exploration missions, as well as more compact, lighter vehicles which will be required to provide logistics towards Moon orbit and down to the Lunar surface.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)