The 'Jules Verne' - Europe’s Automated Transfer Vehicle, ready to go

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The European Space Agency has come up with a very healthy approach to the problem of dealing with the Space Station’s logistics. Being able to move large amounts of material is a step ahead from the Soyuz and Shuttle-based approach. The ATV is Europe’s contribution in lieu of cash to the ISS, and a very useful one it is.

The BBC article is strangely thorough in its detail about the ATV. This quote describes the current situation with the ISS:

“With the US space shuttle soon to retire and a replacement some years away, this role will be vital when the crew complement rises to six individuals in 2009.

The station will continue to receive deliveries from Russian Progress craft and a future Japanese vehicle called the HTV - but neither have the capacity of the ATV.”

The ATV, called “Jules Verne”, appropriately enough, uses the “Russian end” of the space station. It has a pressurized module, which can take people going in and out of it. It has a docking approach similar to that of airborne refueling, using a line to attach to the docking port.

The cargo bay has a series of racks carrying cargo, and manual controls for transfer of water and fuel. That’s a particularly practical way of dealing with “situations’ where the station crew can control loading and unloading at their own speed.

With any luck, the ISS could now be in a position to do some high volume work, too. 7.6 tons is a relatively very large amount of material, and it means that replacements and materials can now be shipped in significant quantities at one time.

The ATV is also intended to help lift the ISS to a higher orbit, as the station’s orbit is lowered by atmospheric drag.

It’s more than likely that this method will also spawn new servicing ideas for the ISS. The shuttles have performed Herculean work in their maintenance and repair missions. But there’s no doubt that the amount of time, labor, money, and lives involved in the shuttles’ work could be better employed. The ISS needs a dedicated supply and maintenance service, and having only one way of fixing problems isn’t the best option.

This BBC article includes a brief tour of the ATV by the programme manager.

The Jules Verne will conduct its maiden voyage this Sunday.