ATV press briefing at ESA Head Office, Paris

On Tuesday 29 January, ESA Programme managers and specialists from industry gathered at ESA's Head Office in Paris to share with the Media a thorough overview of the programme. They also took stock of the current status of the spacecraft and lead the Media through the upcoming phases: the launch, the journey to the International Space Station, the delicate manoeuvres up to docking and the complex operations related to this very challenging mission. A scale model of the ATV spacecraft stands on the right.

From left to right: Jean-Francois Clervoy, ESA Astronaut and ATV Senior Advisor, Nicolas Chamussy, EADS ATV Programme Manager, John Ellwood, ESA ATV Mission Manager, Alan Thirkettle, ESA ISS Programme Manager, Franco Bonacina, ESA Spokesman and Head of Media Relations.