Cross-post from the ESA Astronauts blog – Ed.

Training for ATV docking (Credit: Lionel Ferra)

Luca sits at the ATV console during training at the European Astronaut Centre, Cologne, Germany. (Credit: Lionel Ferra)

The ESA-developed Automated Transfer Vehicle, or ATV, is the flagship of the ISS cargo spacecraft program. No doubt about that: even though I’m just a rookie, I’ve heard it so many times from experienced astronauts and cosmonauts to quickly become convinced. About as big as a London two-decker, the ATV has more than sheer size to amaze us. It’s the only cargo vehicle that stays docked to the Station for 6 months, thus greatly increasing its inhabitable volume: for the long duration astros and cosmos, a welcome luxury.

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