OTB, Denel’s multipurpose test range near Arniston in the Western Cape, has concluded a five year frame contract with the French Space Agency, CNES (Center National d' Etides Spatiales) for the provision of telemetry launch tracking support to future European space launches. The first work order under this Frame Contract will be for the provision of mobile telemetry tracking from Invercargill, New Zealand, during the launch of the “Johannes Kepler” Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV2) which will take place later this year.
This is as a result of the successful support that OTB provided with the launch of the “Jules Verne” Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV1) from the same location in New Zealand in 2008. Although OTB has supported several space missions for the United Launch Alliance (ULA) in the past, this is only the second time that CNES has contracted OTB to support one of its launches.
The 20 metric ton “Johannes Kepler” ATV2 is the second of a new series of autonomous spaceships designed by ESA (European Space Agency) to re-supply the International Space Station with propellants, water, air and payload. ESA's official website described the naming of the second automated transfer vehicle and the success of the programme in the following words:
"ESA's second Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) has been named Johannes Kepler after the German astronomer and mathematician. Kepler (1571-1630) was a German astronomer and mathematician who is best known for discovering the laws of planetary motion. He started his career as a teacher in Graz, then later moved to Prague where he worked with the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe. Kepler's work has made a huge contribution to the scientific and technical progress in Europe and enabled space exploration today."
According to ESA the flawless mission of the first ATV, named after French science fiction writer Jules Verne, demonstrated the key role of the spacecraft in International Space Station (ISS) logistics and operations. “
On its inaugural flight, Jules Verne delivered six tons of cargo to the ISS, which included food, clothing, propellants, water and oxygen. It also contributed to ISS operations by performing regular re-boosts of the orbital complex and by removing 2.5 tons of waste at the end of its six-month mission," ESA said.
The ATV2 will be borne aboard an Ariane 5 ES launch vehicle from Kourou in French Guyana. The elaborate planning for this mission entailed that OTB will deploy its remote telemetry station, consisting of a mobile tracking antenna and its associated equipment, to Invercargill in New Zealand. Given the timing and trajectory of the launch vehicle, the real-time tracking data provided by the OTB station will be vital for placing the ATV into the correct orbit.
Two of OTB’s telemetry specialists have departed a few weeks ago to deploy the mobile telemetry station in New Zealand, integrate it with the CNES telemetry kit and participate in the qualification of the telemetry network.
“We’re proud to be part of such an exciting prestigious programme in the high technology area of space. It’s clear that the international space community has taken notice of OTB’s capacity to deploy and operate its sophisticated telemetry system in remote areas,” said Mr Abrie van der Walt, OTB’s Chief Executive Officer. “It is the only mobile system of its kind available in Southern Africa and Denel’s OTB has become the logical choice to provide assistance to international space programmes,” Mr Van der Walt concluded.
