31 January 2003

Today, about 90 percent of the hardware for Jules Verne, Europe’s first Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) spaceship that is to fly towards the International Space Station (ISS) in September 2004, is already built.

2003: a challenging year to build Jules Verne

31 January 2003

Today, about 90 percent of the hardware for Jules Verne, Europe’s first Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) spaceship that is to fly towards the International Space Station (ISS) in September 2004, is already built.

The different parts and elements of the first in a series of eight ATVs have been manufactured and are progressively being tested and assembled in 10 different European countries including Russia, where the ATV docking mechanism, refuelling system and associated electronics are being produced.

"2003 is a crucial year for integration and building the real spacecraft. The 20-tonne Jules Verne will be ready a year from now for its final test campaign", said Patrice Amadieu, ESA's ATV Deputy Project Manager.

The ATV will provide ISS some 7.5 tonnes of equipment, fuel, food, water and air for the Station’s crew. It will also remove waste from the Station and re-boost it to a higher altitude to compensate for atmospheric drag. The ATV, which is considered to be the most complex space vehicle ever developed in Europe, can be launched on any version of the powerful Ariane 5 launcher.

To keep up with the ATV programme’s heavy schedule, hundreds of technicians and engineers are working - up to two shifts - in several industrial centres across Europe under the supervision of the Prime Contractor EADS Launch Vehicles (France).