Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) approaching the International Space Station (ISS), artwork. The ATV is an unmanned resupply vehicle used by the Europ

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Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) approaching the International Space Station (ISS), artwork. The ATV is an unmanned resupply vehicle used by the European Space Agency to supply the International Space Station (ISS). After launch by a rocket (not seen) the ATV uses its thrusters (rear) to dock with the ISS. Solar panels (blue) and fuel provide power while in orbit. This is the Jules Verne ATV, launched on 9 March 2008. It docked with the ISS on 3 April 2008. Five months later, after boosting the orbit of the ISS, it separated and de-orbited with its cargo of waste, burning up in the Earth's atmosphere on 29 September 2008.

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Size: 5076px × 3448px
Photo credit: © DAVID DUCROS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 2000s, 21st, 3, 2008, agency, approach, approaching, april, artwork, atv, atv-001, automated, century, crewed, dock, docking, earth, esa, european, illustration, international, iss, jules, limb, manned, orbit, panel, panels, planetary, resupply, solar, space, spacecraft, spaceflight, station, supply, technological, technology, transfer, unmanned, vehicle, verne