The ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) is an expendable, unmanned resupply spacecraft developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), for a total cost of 1.35B EUR. The ATV is designed to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) with water, air, propellent, payload, and experiments; as well as re-boost the ISS' orbit. The ATV is designed to supplement the Russian Progress spacecraft, however it has over three times the lift capacity compared to the progress. The ATV is based on the Italian-built Multipurpose Logistics Module, flown on the Shuttle, and also used to resupply the ISS. The ATV is launched on top of the Ariane 5 from the ESA's Guiana Space Center in Kouruou in the French Guiana. The first ATV was flown in March 2008, with four more to be flown by 2015, and up to seven could eventually be flown.
For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_Transfer_Vehicle
Author(s): BStockus Xue (09/03/2008)
