On March 9, 2008, Europe put a new
spaceship in Earth orbit--the Jules Verne. Also known as the ATV (short for "automated
transfer vehicle"), Jules Verne is an unmanned, robotic spaceship able to carry
almost 8 tons of equipment and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).
This is its maiden voyage. For the next few weeks, Jules Verne will perform a
series of test maneuvers in Earth orbit, approaching and following the ISS and
finally docking with the station after space shuttle Endeavour departs on March
25th.
