Amazing Photos: Europe’s ATV-4 Cargo Ship Burns Up in Earth’s Atmosphere

ATV-4 Burns Up on Re-Entry

ESA/NASA

The European Space Agency’s ATV-4 spacecraft, an unmanned supply ship, burns up over an uninhabited stretch of the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 2, 2013 in this image captured by an astronaut on the International Space Station. The huge cargo ship undocked from the space station on Oct. 28 filled with 1.6 tons of waste after five months linked to the orbiting lab.

ATV-4 Spacecraft Burns Up on Re-Entry

ESA/NASA

The European Space Agency’s ATV-4 spacecraft, an unmanned supply ship, burns up over an uninhabited stretch of the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 2, 2013 in this image captured by an astronaut on the International Space Station. The huge cargo ship undocked from the space station on Oct. 28 filled with 1.6 tons of waste after five months linked to the orbiting lab.

ESA’s Unmanned Supply Ship Burns Up on Re-Entry

NASA/ESA

The European Space Agency’s ATV-4 spacecraft, an unmanned supply ship, burns up over an uninhabited stretch of the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 2, 2013 in this image captured by an astronaut on the International Space Station. The huge cargo ship undocked from the space station on Oct. 28 filled with 1.6 tons of waste after five months linked to the orbiting lab.

ESA’s Albert Einstein Burns Up in Earth’s Atmosphere

ESA/NASA

The European Space Agency’s ATV-4 spacecraft, an unmanned supply ship, burns up over an uninhabited stretch of the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 2, 2013 in this image captured by an astronaut on the International Space Station. The huge cargo ship undocked from the space station on Oct. 28 filled with 1.6 tons of waste after five months linked to the orbiting lab.

ESA's Unmanned Cargo Ship Burns Up on Re-Entry

ESA/NASA

The European Space Agency’s ATV-4 spacecraft, an unmanned supply ship, burns up over an uninhabited stretch of the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 2, 2013 in this image captured by an astronaut on the International Space Station. The huge cargo ship undocked from the space station on Oct. 28 filled with 1.6 tons of waste after five months linked to the orbiting lab.

ESA’s Unmanned Spacecraft Burns Up on Re-Entry

ESA/NASA

The European Space Agency’s ATV-4 spacecraft, an unmanned supply ship, burns up over an uninhabited stretch of the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 2, 2013 in this image captured by an astronaut on the International Space Station. The huge cargo ship undocked from the space station on Oct. 28 filled with 1.6 tons of waste after five months linked to the orbiting lab.

ATV-4 Cargo Ship Burns Up Over Pacific

ESA/NASA

The European Space Agency’s ATV-4 spacecraft, an unmanned supply ship, burns up over an uninhabited stretch of the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 2, 2013 in this image captured by an astronaut on the International Space Station. The huge cargo ship undocked from the space station on Oct. 28 filled with 1.6 tons of waste after five months linked to the orbiting lab.

ESA’s Albert Einstein Burns Up Over Pacific Ocean

NASA/ESA

The European Space Agency’s ATV-4 spacecraft, an unmanned supply ship, burns up over an uninhabited stretch of the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 2, 2013 in this image captured by an astronaut on the International Space Station. The huge cargo ship undocked from the space station on Oct. 28 filled with 1.6 tons of waste after five months linked to the orbiting lab.

Supply Ship’s Fiery Re-Entry Captured in Astronaut’s Photo

ESA/NASA

The European Space Agency’s ATV-4 spacecraft, an unmanned supply ship, burns up over an uninhabited stretch of the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 2, 2013 in this image captured by an astronaut on the International Space Station. The huge cargo ship undocked from the space station on Oct. 28 filled with 1.6 tons of waste after five months linked to the orbiting lab.

Unmanned Supply Ship’s Blazing Re-Entry Captured in Astronaut’s Photo

ESA/NASA

The European Space Agency’s ATV-4 spacecraft, an unmanned supply ship, burns up over an uninhabited stretch of the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 2, 2013 in this image captured by an astronaut on the International Space Station. The huge cargo ship undocked from the space station on Oct. 28 filled with 1.6 tons of waste after five months linked to the orbiting lab.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Space.com Staff
News and editorial team

Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.