Albert Einstein ATV

Albert Einstein ATV
ATV-4 Albert Einstein approaching the Zvezda Service Module on 15 June 2013
Mission typeISS resupply
OperatorEuropean Space Agency
COSPAR ID2013-027A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.39175
Mission duration4 months
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeATV
ManufacturerEADS Astrium
Thales Alenia Space
Launch mass20,190 kilograms (44,510 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date5 June 2013, 21:52:11 (2013-06-05UTC21:52:11Z) UTC[1][2]
RocketAriane 5ES
Launch siteKourou ELA-3
ContractorArianespace
End of mission
DisposalDeorbited
Decay date2 November 2013, 12:04 UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Inclination51.6 degrees
Docking with ISS
Docking portZvezda Aft
Docking date15 June 2013, 14:07 UTC
Undocking date28 October 2013, 08:55 UTC
Time docked134 days, 18 hours, 48 minutes
Cargo
Mass6,590 kilograms (14,530 lb)
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The Albert Einstein ATV, or Automated Transfer Vehicle 004 (ATV-004), was a European uncrewed cargo resupply spacecraft, named after the German-born physicist Albert Einstein.[3] It was built to supply the International Space Station (ISS) with propellant, water, air, and dry cargo, and also to reboost the station's altitude with its thrusters.[4] It was the fourth and penultimate ATV to be built, following the Edoardo Amaldi, which was launched in March 2012. Albert Einstein's components were constructed in Turin, Italy, and Bremen, Germany, and underwent final assembly and testing in Bremen in 2012.[5][6] The spacecraft left Bremen for Kourou on 31 August 2012 to begin launch preparations.[7]

Albert Einstein was launched on an Ariane 5ES rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana at 21:52:11 UTC on 5 June 2013.[8] The launch was conducted by Arianespace on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA). At the time of its launch, Albert Einstein was the heaviest spacecraft ever launched to orbit by an Ariane rocket, with a total mass of 20,190 kilograms (44,510 lb).[2] The ATV docked successfully with the ISS at 14:07 UTC (16:07 CEST) on 15 June 2013.[9] After a successful five-month mission, Albert Einstein re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and was destroyed, as planned, on 2 November 2013.[10]

  1. ^ "ATV-4 scheduled for summer liftoff". ESA. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Europe's heaviest cargo ship launched to Space Station". ESA. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  3. ^ "ATV-4 to carry name Albert Einstein". ESA. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference ReboostJune was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Europe's second cargo freighter to fly in December". Spaceflight Now. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  6. ^ "Arianespace... Feeding Amaldi (Launch)". SatNews. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  7. ^ "ATV-4 Albert Einstein en route to Kourou". EADS. 31 August 2012. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  8. ^ "Europe's Heaviest Cargo Ship Launched to Space Station". ESA. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  9. ^ "Europe's largest spaceship reaches its orbital port". ESA. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  10. ^ "A fiery end to a perfect mission: ATV Albert Einstein (2013)". ESA. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2013.