The Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) carries cargo and re-supplies goods from the Earth to ISS. The Water Delivery System (WDS) is dedicated to transport and deliver up to 840 Kg of potable water. For Jules Verne mission, one of the three flight water tanks is filled with 280 kg of potable water.
Two different types of water are required for the ISS according to the Russian and the US standards. With the first ATV flight, water compliant with Russian requirements is delivered. To guarantee the water quality to be delivered to ISS two parallel longevity tests have been carried out on the ground and flight water tanks.
Starting from Turin tap water, SMAT produced, under Thales Alenia Space (TAS) supervision, flight water and water for pre-conditioning of on-ground and flight hardware. On the 26th of September, SMAT and Thales Alenia Space completed the production of “space water” for the first ATV flight.
This paper presents the results of the above mentioned testing and water quality as delivered for flight.
