The Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) is the first fully automatic re-supply spacecraft of its kind. ESA's Jules Verne ATV is the first European space supplier for the ISS. It was launched 9 March 2008 from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
Animation of the ISS re-boost performed by Jules Verne ATV. The Station's altitude naturally decreases with atmospheric drag. Regular re-boosts push the Station back into a higher altitude. Re-boosts can be provided by the Russian Progress, the Space Shuttle, the ISS itself and the ATV.
HI-RES JPEG (Size: 
HI-RES MOV (Size: 
Related ESApod