Europe launches 'Jules Verne' spacecraft

[Zombie Dave]

it doesn't look like much, but the european space agency has launched its cargo ship, an automated 'space freighter' called an ATV. its not a reusable ship like the space shuttle, but it is europes biggest orbital spacecraft yet and has lots of exciting configuration options.

ATV and soyuz will take up the slack when the american space shuttles retire in 2010.



this is also a rare meeting of two space craft visiting the space station at the same time - a shuttle is up there too - not to mention a world record for the ariane rocket as this is its heaviest payload yet.