Ariane 5 with Automated Transfer Vehicle

The Automated Transfer Vehicle is an unmanned vehicle which is put in orbit by the European Ariane 5 launcher. It provides the International Space Station with: pressurized cargo, water, air, Nitrogen, Oxygen and attitude control propellant. It also removes waste from the station and re-boosts the Station to a higher altitude to compensate for atmospheric drag.This new vehicle, scheduled for maiden flight in September 2004, will dock with the Station's Zvezda Service Module. It will carry a 7.4 tonne payload that includes water, oxygen and propellant. Four tonnes of the propellant will be used to reboost the Station at regular intervals; another 860 kg will be transferred to the Station for attitude and orbit control. ATV will be a separate transfer vehicle with avionics and propulsion capability. Launched by Ariane-5E, it will resemble a regular satellite payload protected by Ariane's fairing. Equipped with a set of engines and with solar panels, it will include a separate pressurised payload container. Controlled from the ATV Control Centre in Europe, its docking manoeuvres will be coordinated with the Space Station Control Center at Houston and with the Russian control centre near Moscow. Status as of March 2002.

Automated Transfer Vehicle

Artist's impression of the Automated Transfer Vehicle approaching the International Space Station. In combination with ESA's new Ariane 5, the 20.5 t, 8.5 m-long Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) will enable Europe to transport cargo to the International Space Station. This new vehicle, scheduled for its initial test flight in October 2002, can carry 9 tonnes of scientific equipment, general supplies, water, oxygen and propellant.