ATV Jules Verne: a Step by Step Approach for In-Orbit Demonstration of New Rendezvous Technologies

摘要

In order to gain enough confidence in the behavior of the first Automated Transfer Vehicle "Jules Verne" (ATV-JV), the European Space Agency (ESA) defined a set of objectives and criteria to be met during the demonstration phase of the first mission prior to docking. ATV rendezvous sensor data, on-board navigation, trajectory and corridors have been in-orbit cross verified using available independent operational means as part of the demonstration objectives of ATV-JV mission. ATV-JV successfully met all demonstration criteria showing accurate relative navigation, a very robust control and a trajectory behavior well within the agreed criteria (up to 70% smaller in some cases). With the gained confidence the vehicle was authorized to complete on the 3rd of April 2008 the rendezvous, performed flawlessly and safely until docking. This paper addresses the definition of demonstration criteria, their operational implementation and the in-flight results.