International Space Station (ISS) supply. Artwork of the European Crew Transfer Vehicle (CTV) appr- oaching the ISS (at upper centre) to deliver fresh

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International Space Station (ISS) supply. Artwork of the European Crew Transfer Vehicle (CTV) appr- oaching the ISS (at upper centre) to deliver fresh astronauts. The CTV will be launched from Earth by the European Ariane 5 rocket (not seen here) to reach the ISS's altitude of 347-457 kilometres. It will then dock with the ISS to allow the astronauts to enter. The CTV can remain attached to the space station in case it is needed as an escape pod during an emergency. At the end of a mission or during an emergency, the CTV will detach from the ISS and safely re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. The ISS should commence operation with a crew of six in June 2002.

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Size: 2500px × 3643px
Photo credit: © DAVID DUCROS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 5, ariane, colonize, crew, ctv, european, flight, industrialisation, industrialise, industrialization, industrialize, international, lifeboat, manned, paylod, space, spacecraft, spaceflight, station, supply, transfer, vehicle