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The first ATV Flight Unit Jules Verne will be subjected to a Thermal Vacuum Test during 2006. The paper describes the large Test Prediction campaign performed by ALCATEL ALENIA SPACE (AAS) with the ATV Integrated Overall Thermal Mathematical Model (IOTMM) developed by AAS, considering the reference inputs data provided by EADS-ST. The prediction results will be used to adjust and validate the final test procedure with regard to the sequence of operations and set-points to be applied during the TV Test. The ATV Jules Verne TV test will be performed at ESA-ESTEC LSS vacuum test chamber.

The Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) Thermal Control System (TCS) has the task to ensure the required internal environment at level of pressurized module and to thermally control the not pressurised modules and installed equipment, using passive and active control means, in response to the relevant applicable requirements. The ATV vehicle is assially subdivided into three main modules: the Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC), the Equipped Avionics Bay (EAB) and the Equipped Propulsion Bay (EPB). Each of these modules present elaborated and specific thermal design solutions, to satisfy the different required operative tasks. The extensive thermal analysis campaign performed at ATV vehicle level and in progress for the next Qualification Review (QR) to justify and support the thermal control design solutions and verification status is described.

In the frame of the International Space Station (ISS) development plan, TAS-I was in charge of manufacturing, integrating and testing several manned modules like American USOS MPLMs, Nodes 2, Node 3 and Cupola in addition to the European manned modules Columbus and ATV. Based on the current ISS assembly sequence, Cupola, which is considered a US Governed Furnished Equipment (GFE) of Node 3, will be launched mated to the Node 3 active axial port in the NSTS 20A mission, beginning 2010. After NSTS docking and Node 3/Cupola berthing to N1 Port port, Cupola will be moved and permanently located to the N3 Nadir port to support ISS operations (e.g. Japanese HTV docking maneuvers to N2). Thermal design for Cupola consists of passive protections from launch up to its permanent location and active/passive controls when permanently mated to N3.

The Russian Equipment Control System (RECS) is a part of the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), mounted on the Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC) and shall serve to control the Russian Docking System (RDS), the Russian Refueling System (RFS), as well as to enable power supply and ATV avionics control from the ISS Service Module (SM). The RECS equipment are able to provide electrical and functional interfaces between ATV avionics and RDS in free flight, at docking / de-docking from ISS and with ISS Service Module and RFS in attached phase. The RECS for ATV-ICC use is developed in the framework of a Contract between ALCATEL ALENIA SPACE - ITALIA and RSC-ENERGIA. The RECS instrumentation has been redesigned including both components borrowed from other projects (Soyuz, Progress) and newly developed components, designed to satisfy the thermal requirements applicable to RECS operation within ATV project.