Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 30 September 2008 04:03
Science -
Space
Page 1 of 2
Jules Verne, the first Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), has completed its mission with a controlled destructive re-entry over the South Pacific.
The ATV is a combination supply vessel, booster and garbage truck for the International Space Station. Developed for the European Space Agency by a consortium led by EADS Space Transportation, the ATV can automatically rendezvous and dock with the ISS.
The first ATV, named Jules Verne after the early French science fiction novelist, was launched on March 9. It carried six tonnes of cargo, including 860 kg of refuelling propellant, 270 kg of water, 20 kg of oxygen, 500 kg of food, 136 kg of spare parts for the Columbus laboratory and 80 kg of clothing.
It also delivered a 19th century luxury edition of Jules Verne's 'De la Terre à la Lune' ('From the Earth to the Moon') and two of his handwritten manuscripts.
The bulk of the cargo was the propulsion propellant used by the ATV to rendezvous with the ISS, boost it into a higher orbit, and finally to deorbit.
The second reboost set a new record. A 20 minute burn of Jules Verne's main engines increased the altitude of the ISS by approximately 7 km to 345 km.
The only other craft capable of making a big difference to the Station's altitude is Russia's Progress supply vehicle.
What did the ESA project manager have to say about the mission? Please
read on.
