ATV Docking with Space Station Occurs Flawlessly

摘要

Astronauts aboard the international space station opened the hatch of Europe's Jules Verne cargo carrier early April 4, one day after the vehicle successfully docked for the first time with the orbiting laboratory. The docking went smoothly April 3 after several weeks during which the cargo craft was going through test maneuvers or being held in a parking orbit. The first of a new fleet of automated resupply spacecraft, Jules Verne docked at the orbiting laboratory at 10:40 a.m. EDT under the watchful eye of space station commander Peggy Whitson and flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko.