Automated Transfer Vehicle

The Automated Transfer Vehicle or ATV is a European Space Agency spacecraft designed to supply the International Space Station with propellant, water, air, payload experiments and the like. In addition, the ATV can re-boost the station, restoring its orbit that shrinks over time due to friction with the atmosphere. It is an unmanned spacecraft launched with an Ariane 5 from Kourou, French Guiana. After approximately 2 days of autonomous transfer flight it arrives at the International Space Station and docks automatically to the Russian Service Module Zvezda.

Related Topics:
European Space Agency - International Space Station - Unmanned spacecraft - Ariane 5 - Kourou - French Guiana - Russian Service Module Zvezda

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