Ariane rocket tests space tug sequence

摘要

Europe's latest Ariane 5 rocket launch used a commercial satellite launch to test an engine re-ignition sequence on 5 October 2007 that will be needed to loft the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)early next year. At almost 20 tonnes, the ATV will become the biggest payload to be launched by an Ariane 5 and a key feature of the flight will be a re-ignition of the upper stage some 50 minutes after the first burn, turning an initial elliptical orbit into a circular one from which the ATV can then travel under its own guidance systems to the International Space Station (ISS). The re-boost procedure is a novel one for Ariane and engineers wanted to use October's mission as a dress rehearsal for the ATV burn, which will last about 10 seconds.