Jules Verne's Terrific Re-entry

After spending nearly six months attached to the International Space Station, ESA's Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) made a fantastic atmospheric re-entry today. And by fantastic I mean complete spacecraft vaporization as shown in this first known picture taken from an airborne DC-8. What remnants survived the re-entry splashed down into the Pacific Ocean. Jules Verne made such a spectacular show for those who could see it because it was so huge to begin with. Compare it below to the size of both the Apollo and Progress spacecraft. Jules Verne "carried almost five tonnes of food, breathing air, drinking water and fuel" to the ISS. Of course in typical fashion, Verne was discarded after it's use was no longer needed. ESA has at least two more ATVs in production for future launches. With more than 100 years since Jules Verne's death I'm glad to see he finally completed le voyage extraordinaire.



[Gizmodo]

Home to PointNiner