Racks of the astronauts’ crew care packages inside the ATV-2 cargo ship. Photograph: ESA
The new Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV-2) is now loaded up for its launch on 15 February to the International Space Station, and represents a major milestone in space projects by the European Space Agency (ESA).
The ATV-2’s predecessor, the Jules Verne, undertook a test flight in 2008 and delivered a small payload. But ATV-2 – also known as the Johannes Kepler, after the famous astronomer and mathematician – is the real thing. It is due to dock with the space station on 25 February with 7.5 tons of propellant, oxygen and other cargo.
This will be the 200th launch aboard the European Ariane 5 rocket, and the heaviest load that an Ariane 5 has ever put into orbit.
Besides carrying fuel to the space station, the ATV will ferry special packages to the crew. Every astronaut is allowed one small “crew care package” that weighs up to 13kg – slightly more than the carry-on baggage allowance of many low-cost airlines.
They can have this filled it with personal items such as family photos, music and chocolate. The crew office back on Earth also adds surprise items from the astronauts’ families, such as birthday cards and presents.
Near the end of its tour, the ATV-2 will become a giant space dustbin. It will be filled with liquid waste, solid waste bags and spent or unwanted hardware. It will then be undocked and sent towards Earth, burning up during re-entry.
Learn more
Follow the progress of the ATV-2 on the ESA’s ATV blog
Check out photos about the ATV-2 on Flickr
Download an ESA factsheet about the ATV-2 (PDF, 620KB)
Find out about ESERO Ireland (the European Space Education Resource Office) our new joint initiative with the ESA to provide space-themed resources to teachers and raise awareness about space as a theme in STEM subjects
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Racks of the astronauts’ crew care packages inside the ATV-2 cargo ship. Photograph: ESA
