To be supplied by the ESA in 2003, the ATV will provide re-boosting, refueling and hauling services. It will dock automatically with the Zvezda service module, then deliver up to nine tons of cargo. About half of the cargo will consist of food, clothing and the like. Propellant for re-boosting the ISS, water, oxygen and nitrogen will make up the other half. It will be incinerated when it re-enters Earth's atmosphere.

Logistics Modules

These are the Italian-built pieces for the ISS, done outside of the European Space Agency's contract with NASA. The names of the modules are Leonardo, Raffaello and Donnatello.

Leonardo will be the primary delivery system used to re-supply the ISS, as well as return station cargo requiring a pressurized environment. It is built by Italy, and was done outside of the ESA's contract for the ISS. The cylindrical module is about 21 feet long, 15 feet in diameter and weights almost 4.5 tons. It can carry up to 20,000 pounds of supplies, science experiments, spare parts and other logistical components.

The Leonardo module is scheduled to be launched on Shuttle mission STS-102 in June 2000. On that flight, Leonardo will be filled with equipment and supplies to outfit the U.S. laboratory module, which will have been carried to the station on a preceding shuttle flight. Raffaello is scheduled to be launched in July 2000.

[source: NASA]