Feature

The Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)

The International Space Station (ISS) depends on regular deliveries of experimental equipment and spare parts as well as food, air and water for its permanent crew. From early 2008 onward, Europe's Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) will be one of the indispensable ISS supply spaceships.
 
Every 12 months or so, the ATV will haul 7.7 tonnes of cargo from its Kourou launch site in French Guiana to the Station 340 km above the Earth. An on board high precision navigation system will guide the ATV on a rendezvous trajectory towards ISS, where it will automatically dock with the Station's Russian service module. The ATV will remain there as a pressurized and integral part of the Station for up to six months until its final mission: a fiery one-way trip into the Earth's atmosphere to dispose of up to 6.4 tonnes of Station waste.  
 

Dimensions   Length: 9 794 mm Largest diameter: 4 480 mm Solar arrays span: 22 281 mm Mass budget   Vehicle dry mass: 10 470 kg Vehicle consumables: 2 613 kg Total vehicle mass: 13 083 kg Total cargo upload capacity: 7 667 kg Mass at launch: 19 357 kg Waste download capacity: 6 400 kg

 
 

Launch configuration   Cargo mass capabilities Dry supplies: 5 500 kg   Drinking water: 840 kg   Air (oxygen and nitrogen): 100 kg   ISS refuelling propellant: 860 kg   ISS re-boost and attitude control propellant: 4 700 kg   Total cargo upload capacity: 7 667 kg Launch vehicle Ariane 5 ES ATV (inclination 51.6°; initial orbital altitude 260 km)   ATV will be launched with its solar panels folded to the body of the spacecraft Launch site Kourou, French Guiana First flight 9 March 2008

 
 
Last update: 16 January 2009