[sarex] Crew Continues ‘Jules Verne’ Preps and Station Upkeep

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*Crew Continues ‘Jules Verne’ Preps and Station Upkeep*

Automated Transfer VehicleImage above: Artist's impression of the 
Automated Transfer Vehicle aproaching the completed International Space 
Station. Credit: ESA
TO V IEW IMAGE GO 
TO:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html

Expedition 15 continues to prepare the International Space Station for 
next year’s visit of the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), the European 
Space Agency’s (ESA) cargo spacecraft. The ATV, named ‘Jules Verne,’ 
will be ESA’s first cargo vehicle to visit the international space 
laboratory.

Earlier in the week, the crew tested navigation software and placed the 
station in the attitude necessary for the ATV to rendezvous and dock 
automatically. The station was under Russian attitude control at the 
time. Russian specialists noted the station was slightly off attitude 
and investigated the problem.

Maintenance continued on an exercise device called the Treadmill with 
Vibration Isolation and Stabilization (TVIS). Flight rules state that 
the TVIS will be checked out and maintained every six months.

Upcoming events for the station include a crew swap when Expedition 16 
launches aboard a Soyuz on Oct. 10 and a new module, the Harmony Node 2, 
when space shuttle Discovery launches on Oct. 23.

+ Read more about Expedition 16 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition16/index.html>
+ View Hurricane Felix imagery 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/multimedia/exp15_hurricane_felix.html>
+ Read about the PMA-3 relocation 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition15/pma3move.html>
+ Read more about Expedition 15 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition15/index.html>
+ View crew daily timelines 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/timelines/index.html>