After a flawless launch on Sunday, ESA’s Automated Transfer Vehicle is safely on orbit and beginning its pursuit of the International Space Station. The robotic spacecraft will deliver 7 metric tons of supplies and equipment to the astronauts on the orbital outpost.
ESA reports the ATV, dubbed Jules Verne, is functioning normally. “All navigation systems onboard, the star-trackers, the GPS system are working nominally and the solar arrays, which deployed very smoothly, are delivering full power. However the spacecraft on board computers detected a slight difference in pressure between the oxidizer and the fuel that compose the propellant. This caused the ATV to immediately switch over to the second of four propulsion chains, as it is designed to do.”
There is a lot of mission coverage out there. Here are a few links you might find useful:
ESA ATV Blog: All the latest updates as well as slide shows, launch videos and background information.
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