ESA launch ATV to ISS (and other abbreviations)
Matt Brown
Monday, 10 March 2008 16:44 UTC
Europe got a step closer to independent human space flight yesterday.
The Jules Verne automated transfer vehicle (ATV) launched atop an Ariane 5 rocket towards the International Space Station, stocked to the futtocks with supplies.
Although no Euronauts were onboard, the craft does contain a pressurised section, which crew will enter once the ship docks at the ISS.
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Almost three weeks after launch, and the ATV is performing flawlessly. Yesterday, the bus-sized freighter moved within 12 metres of the International Space Station, successfully demonstrating a number of manouevers. The ATV will dock with the ISS on Thursday.
In the meantime, scroll to the bottom of the BBC coverage for a cool map of the ATV and ISS flightpaths.
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