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Russian fuel flows in Jules Verne’s veins

14 January 2008

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There are three teams of three 'scapemen'

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Jules Verne ATV fuelling operations get underway at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. There are three teams of three ‘scapemen’, the fuelling specialists. Because it is exhausting work wearing a pressurized suit in a high-risk environment, their task is limited to periods of 4 four hour operations.

Credits: 2007 - ESA /CNES/Arianespace/Photo optique video du CSG

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Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) is moved from the S5C hall, where the spacecraft has been prepared across to the S5B area where it will be loaded with Russian propellants. Jules Verne is the first ATV, the European re-supply spacecraft for the International Space Station (ISS). Jules Verne is being prepared for launch at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. (3 January 2008)

Credits: 2007 - ESA /CNES/Arianespace/Photo optique video du CSG

Protective suits

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Scapemen wear special suits during fuelling operations

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Jules Verne ATV fuelling operations get underway at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. As a precaution against the toxic and explosive characteristics of the hydrazine, a series of strict measures are in place, such as the requirement for the ‘scapemen’ - the fuelling specialists – to wear special suits during fuelling operations.

Credits: 2007 - ESA /CNES/Arianespace/Photo optique video du CSG

Fuel for ATV

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Jules Verne ATV fuelling operations get underway at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The month-long delicate fuelling operations, which have started in early January at the Kourou launch centre's giant S5 integration building, marks the irreversible process towards a launch of the Jules Verne ATV in the second half of February.

Credits: 2007 - ESA /CNES/Arianespace/Photo optique video du CSG

Four propellants

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Launch vehicle

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Solid rocket booster arrives for integration

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Solid rocket booster arrives in the Launcher Integration Building (Bâtiment d'Intégration Lanceur - BIL) at Europe's Spaceport, on 11 December 2007. One of two solid rocket boosters which will be integrated with the main cryogenic stage (Etage à Propergol Cryogénique or EPC) of the flight 181 Ariane 5 ES launch vehicle. Flight 181 will launch Jules Verne, the first Automated Transfer Vehicle - a resupply spacecraft for the International Space Station.

Credits: 2007 - ESA /CNES/Arianespace/Photo optique video du CSG

Final preparations for first human-rated spacecraft to be launched from Europe's Spaceport Jules Verne ATV given its 'wings'Jules Verne dry cargo prepared in Turin Successful test of Jules Verne ATV software