European Cargo Ship Boosts Space Station's Orbit

PARIS - Europe?s first Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) cargo supply ship has successfully raised the International Space Station into a higher orbit in the first of four re-boost maneuvers scheduled between now and August, its manufacturer and the European Space Agency (ESA) announced Friday.

Using two of its four main engines, the ATV Jules Verne pushed the 308-ton orbital complex for a period of 12.5 minutes, increasing its speed by just over 8 feet (2.65 meters) per second and raising its altitude by 2.8 miles (4.6 km). The ATV consumed 537 pounds (244 kg) of its fuel in performing the task.

The station?s orbit of around 211 miles (340 km) regularly degrades from the effects of residual atmosphere at that altitude.? Named after the famed 19th century French science fiction author, the Jules Verne cargo ship is scheduled to raise the station?s orbit on three more occasions in June, July and August. Russia?s unmanned Progress supply vessels are also is capable of boosting the station?s orbit, as are the U.S. space shuttles of NASA.

The 19,000-kilogram ATV docked to the station on April 3 loaded with food, fuel, water and other supplies for the station?s crew. Once its mission is completed in August, it will be loaded with garbage, separated from the station and burned up over the South Pacific Ocean as it re-enters the atmosphere.

At least four other ATV vehicles will be launched aboard European Ariane 5 rockets at regular intervals in the next seven years as part of a barter arrangement with NASA in return for European use of the station?s resources. Europe?s Columbus laboratory was attached to the space station in February following its launch aboard a U.S. space shuttle.

• VIDEO: Orbital Arrival: Europe's Jules Verne ATV Arrives at ISS
• VIDEO: Europe's Special Delivery to Space Station, ATV Mission Control
• VIDEO: Part 1: Europe's First ISS Cargo Ship, Part 2