ATV

Editor's note: This page is no longer being updated, but will be preserved as a record. Click here for the latest information on ATV.The first ATV was named after French the 19th century French author and visionary Jules Verne, who fascinated the minds of million of young people and inspired space scientists and explorers with his extraordinary voyages: From the Earth to the Moon, 20 000 leagues under the sea, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, to name just a few.The mission of this first ATV was an extraordinary voyage and celestial journey of its own kind. Its task was to demonstrate that ATV can accomplish the cargo flight to the ISS safely and reliably, and that all the advanced technologies ATV carries work as planned.Therefore the mission of Jules Verne was different from the textbook missions that the ATV in future will use. It was launched from Kourou on 9 March 2008 at 01:03 local time (05:03 CET) and after transfer flight and several demonstration manouvres Jules Verne docked to the aft port of Russia’s Zvezda module at 16:45 CEST (14:45 GMT) on 3 April 2008. Docking was completed with hooks closing at 16:52 CEST (14:52 GMT).

A test version of ESA’s service module for NASA’s Orion spacecraft arrived in the US yesterday after leaving its assembly site in Italy last weekend.

Do you have what it takes to be an astronaut? ESA is making actual astronaut training available on your computer and tablet, so you can see for yourself.

Two ESA ground stations in Europe and Australia will provide crucial tracking support for the flight of Ariane 5, set for liftoff on 15 February with ATV-2 .Three more stations plus a central control team will stand by to provide back-up telecommanding during ATV's mission.

What happens on Earth when ATV reenters

ATV Jules Verne reentry

ATV Control Centre in 2012

Astronauts on ISS