The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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The Automated Transfer Vehicle
ESA’s Automated Transfer Vehicle, ATV, is a series of unmanned space transport vehicles which will ferry supplies to the ISS.
Each ATV carries scientific equipment, food, water, oxygen and propellant from Earth to the Station and uses its engines to keep the ISS in its correct orbit. Each vehicle will be docked to the Station for several months. During this time waste will be offloaded into the ATV, which will burn up during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
Launched by Ariane 5, the ATV is one of the largest and most technologically challenging space vehicles that has been developed and built in Europe.
It will perform critical manoeuvres in space for rendezvous and docking with the ISS, allowing Europe to acquire first-hand experience in such technologies, essential for development of space exploration in the near and long-term.