EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY HAS ANNOUNCED CARGO VEHICLE DOCKING WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

By Leigh Brandt
The European Space Agency announces that it’s third cargo vehicle has docked with the International Space Station.  Edoado Amaldi (ATV-3) docked with the Russian space module at the ISS.

Thomas Reiter, ESA’s Director of Human Spaceflight and Operations said, “No-one should consider that this smooth and gentle docking between these two giant spacecraft is either an easy or routine task.  The technologies we have demonstrated in operational conditions with the ATVs have a tremendous potential for future human spaceflight and exploration missions.”

The ESA website went on to say, “ Like its predecessors, ATV-3 has a multifaceted mission. As a space tug, it is loaded with 3150 kg of propellant to reboost the Station’s orbit to compensate for the natural decay in altitude caused by atmospheric drag or to move it from the path of potentially hazardous space debris. ATV also provides attitude control when other spacecraft are approaching the Station.”

ESA went on to say that the ATV-3 can also be used as a tanker for fuel or as extra living space for ISS occupants.