# Edoardo Amaldi ATV

> European uncrewed cargo resupply spacecraft

**Wikidata**: [Q59683](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q59683)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edoardo_Amaldi_ATV)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/edoardo-amaldi-atv

## Summary
The Edoardo Amaldi ATV was a European uncrewed cargo resupply spacecraft developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) to support the International Space Station. It was the third mission in ESA’s Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) program, launched in March 2012. The spacecraft delivered essential supplies such as fuel, water, air, and pressurized cargo before undocking and burning up in Earth’s atmosphere.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: 2012-03-23  
- **Launch Site**: ELA-3  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Ariane 5ES  
- **Operator**: European Space Agency (ESA)  
- **Mass at Takeoff**: 20,050 kg  
- **Payload Capacity**: 6,595 kg  
- **Fuel Mass**: 4,010 kg  
- **Pressurized Cargo**: 2,200 kg  
- **Orbital Period**: 92.73 minutes  
- **Docking Location**: International Space Station (Zvezda module, stern port)  
- **Mission End**: Atmospheric entry on 2012-10-03  

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of the Edoardo Amaldi ATV?
A: The Edoardo Amaldi ATV was designed to deliver cargo, propellant, water, and air to the International Space Station. It also supported reboost maneuvers and waste disposal by burning up upon reentry.

### Q: Who built the Edoardo Amaldi ATV?
A: The spacecraft was manufactured by Thales Alenia Space under the management of ESA. Launch services were provided by Arianespace using an Ariane 5ES rocket.

### Q: How long did the Edoardo Amaldi ATV stay docked to the ISS?
A: It docked with the ISS on 2012-03-28 and remained attached until 2012-09-28, totaling approximately six months of operational service.

## Why It Matters
The Edoardo Amaldi ATV played a critical role in sustaining operations aboard the International Space Station during its mission life. As part of ESA’s ATV program, it demonstrated Europe’s capability to independently contribute to human spaceflight logistics. Its successful missions validated advanced autonomous rendezvous and docking technologies, which have since influenced future spacecraft development. Additionally, the ATV series helped establish reliable cargo delivery systems essential for maintaining long-term habitation in low Earth orbit.

## Notable For
- Third mission in ESA’s Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) program  
- Successfully completed over 6 months of cargo delivery and station reboost operations  
- Carried one of the largest payloads among all ATVs, including 2,200 kg of pressurized cargo  
- Demonstrated precise automated docking with the Russian Zvezda module  
- Named after Italian physicist Edoardo Amaldi, a pioneer in cosmic ray research and space science  

## Body

### Mission Overview
The Edoardo Amaldi ATV (ATV-003) was launched on 2012-03-23 from the ELA-3 launch site at Kourou, French Guiana. It was carried into orbit by an Ariane 5ES rocket operated by Arianespace. After a successful launch, it autonomously navigated toward the International Space Station and docked on 2012-03-28.

### Technical Specifications
- **Total Mass at Launch**: 20,050 kg  
- **Propellant Load**: 4,010 kg  
- **Gas Mass**: 100 kg  
- **Water Mass**: 285 kg  
- **Cargo Payload**: 6,595 kg  
  - Pressurized Cargo: 2,200 kg  
  - Unpressurized Cargo: Integrated within propulsion and structural components  

### Orbital Characteristics
- **Satellite Of**: Low Earth Orbit  
- **Periapsis**: 410 km  
- **Apoapsis**: 420 km  
- **Inclination**: 51.64°  
- **Orbital Period**: 92.73 minutes  

### Operational Timeline
- **Launch Event**: 2012-03-23  
- **Docking Start**: 2012-03-28  
- **Docking End**: 2012-09-28  
- **Deorbit Burn & Atmospheric Entry**: 2012-10-03  

### Significant Events
- Docked to the Zvezda service module via the aft (stern) port  
- Provided reboost capabilities to maintain ISS altitude  
- Delivered critical consumables including oxygen, nitrogen, water, and food  
- Undocked and performed destructive reentry to dispose of station waste  

### Naming and Legacy
Named in honor of Edoardo Amaldi—an Italian physicist instrumental in early cosmic ray studies and co-founder of CERN—the Edoardo Amaldi ATV honored his contributions to space science and exploration. It followed the Johannes Kepler ATV and preceded the Albert Einstein ATV in the ATV mission sequence.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013