ESA - Astrolab - Expedition 14 ready for spacewalk

Astrolab Mission

About the mission Why Astrolab?Mission facts Factsheets (pdf)This week on ISS

Science programme

Human physiology Biology Radiation Physics Technology Education

Meet the crew

Thomas Reiter Léopold Eyharts Michael E. Lopez-Alegria Mikhail Tyurin Expedition 13

Astrolab Mission live

ESA Television NASA TV live Reiter EVA blog

Multimedia

Multimedia gallery

Services

Article Images

Expedition 14 ready for spacewalk

22 November 2006

Back to article

Expedition 11 crewmember John Phillips wears an Orlan spacesuit during a spacewalk from the International Space Station.

Credits: NASA

Back to article

Download:

HI RES JPG (Size: 12 652 kb)

Artist's impression of the Automated Transfer Vehicle approaching the International Space Station. In combination with ESA's new Ariane 5, the 20.5 t, 8.5 m-long Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) will enable Europe to transport cargo to the International Space Station. This new vehicle, scheduled for its initial test flight in September 2004, can carry 9 tonnes of scientific equipment, general supplies, water, oxygen and propellant. Up to 4 t can be propellant for ATV's own engines to reboost the Station at regular intervals as atmospheric drag reduces the orbit. Developed under Aerospatialess prime contractorship, an ATV will be launched on average every 15 months as a means of ESA contributing to the Station's operating costs. It can remain docked for up to 6 months, during which time it will be loaded with Station waste before being undocked and flown into Earth's atmosphere to burn up.

Credits: ESA - D.Ducros