: NASA / ESA
16 June (IRIN) –
The fourth ship itemprop=”description”>
coupling occurred around 16.00 (GMT) on Saturday, as scheduled. “The fourth ATV is now ready to support and provision the space station of essential supplies and scientific equipment,” stated Dordain, who stressed that “the ESA has shown, once again, be a strong partner in the ISS whose relationship can build the future. “
The vehicle contains 20 tons, the heaviest ship ever launched in Europe, and it flew autonomously docking at the complex of 420 tons with an accuracy of a few centimeters, while both orbiting the Earth at 28,000 miles per hour.
“A delicate contact between a ship the size of a double decker bus and the station, 20 times, is an amazing achievement that highlights the impressive degree of control achieved by this system developed by our industry under ESA’s direction, “stated the direct Spaceflight and Operations of ESA, Thomas Reiter.
“These impressive technological capabilities continue to misuse in the next service module of NASA manned vehicle, Orion,” he stated.
During the four months that will be attached to the station ISS, the ATV will provide additional 45 cubic meters of living space. In previous missions astronauts module concerned the ATV as “the quietest place the station”, and often chose it as a place of work.
fnal its mission, scheduled for October 28, the ATV-4 will separate from the ISS, filled with debris. The next day will be guided to make his reentry, disintegrating with all its contents, on the South Pacific.
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