Jules Verne Hooks Up With Space Station

The European Space Agency's robotic space craft, the Jules Verne, made a near perfect docking with the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday bringing tonnes of needed supplies. “The docking of the A.T.V. is a new and spectacular step in the demonstration of European capabilities on the international scene of space exploration,” said Jean-Jacques Dordain, director general of the European Space Agency. Besides fuel, oxygen, clothing, food, and equipment, the A.T.V. delivered two original manuscripts handwritten by the ships name sake and a 19th-century illustrated edition of his novel “From the Earth to the Moon,” which will be returned to Earth at a later date. New York Times article here.

Jules Verne Lifts Off

The European Space Agency has sent an unmanned supply ship into orbit to rendezvous with the International Space Station. Named Jules Verne after the 19th century French science fiction writer, the 20 tonne cargo ship will deliver supplies by self docking with the space station. The ship will then be filled with refuse and sent into a disintegrating orbit where both the trash and the vessel will disintegrate upon re-entry over the Pacific Ocean in August. CBC article here.