Photos: Europe's ATV Robotic Space Cargo Ships

Graceful Jules Verne

The Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) practices approaching the International Space Station on Monday, March 31, 2008.

European Space Agency ATV-3 Edoardo Amaldi

Europe's third Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV-3) is named Edoardo Amaldi.

Rocket Traffic Jam Pushes Big Space Cargo Ship's Launch to 2011

Backdropped by the blackness of space, the European Space Agency's (ESA) "Jules Verne" Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) begins its relative separation from the International Space Station. The ATV undocked on Sept. 5, 2008 and was placed in a parking orbit for three weeks, before deorbiting on Sept. 29 and burning up in the Earth's atmosphere.

"Jules" Arrives at ISS

Historical first docking of ESA's Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) Jules Verne to ISS.

Europe's First Space Cargo Ship Recovers From Propulsion Glitch

Liftoff of Europe's ATV cargo ship Jules Verne on March 8, 2008.

Space Freighter Finishes Docking Dress Rehearsals

Europe's Jules Verne cargo ship parks in front of the space station's Zvezda service module March 31, 2008.

European Space Freighter Makes Docking Debut

A camera outside the International Space Station caught this view of the arriving European cargo ship Jules Verne during its docking on April 3, 2008.

Inside the Space Station's Jules Verne Cargo Ship

Astronauts work and play in the space station's European cargo ship.

Blaze of Glory

This is one of the first images taken by the DC-8 aircraft which observed the re-entry of Jules Verne ATV over the Pacific Ocean.

The Spectacular Breakup of ATV: One Final Experiment

Mission concept.

Crackin' Up

Two NASA chase planes captured the European ATV space cargo ship breaking up in the atmosphere upon successful reentry and completion of the mission.