back to article Third European supply podule docks with space station

Europe's ATV cargo ship Edoardo Amaldi successfully docked with the International Space Station last night, marking the third ATV mission to restock the ISS. The totally automated space freighter hooked up with the Russian Zvezda module's docking cone smoothly at around 22:30 GMT last night. The ATV was monitored from the …

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  1. Michael H.F. Wilkinson Silver badge
    Happy

    'Smooth, gentle' mating at 28,000 kph

    I trust that is with respect to our earthbound frame of reference, not the speed of the podule with respect to ISS.

    1. Colin Miller

      Re: 'Smooth, gentle' mating at 28,000 kph

      Indeed it is, and this reporting annoys me. It's the relative speed that matters - its like drinking a cup of tea in a plane doing 500mph, not difficult as everything is moving slowly relative to each other.

  2. Crisp

    Should have shelled out for an Advanced Docking Computer

    They are only like 1500 Credits.

    1. Gordon 10
      Thumb Up

      Re: Should have shelled out for an Advanced Docking Computer

      Technically it already has one.

      The backup is a ground controller continually mashing the "P" on his keyboard to match rotation.

  3. Syed
    Facepalm

    Dear Author... make your mind up

    First it's 28,000 kph, then it's 28,000 km/hr. Try using km/h.

    </PEDANT>

    1. Anonymous Cowbard
      Thumb Up

      Re: Dear Author... make your mind up

      Or maybe a more headline grabbing 7777.7778 m/s

  4. Michael H.F. Wilkinson Silver badge

    What is this figure in double-decker buses per fortnight?

    1. Rob Carriere

      Approximately 200 mega pi.

  5. Martin Budden Silver badge
    WTF?

    "podule"?

    Why oh why is a new word needed here?

    1. Crisp

      Re: "podule"?

      Because it's fun to say.

  6. Kharkov
    Angel

    And now for Dragon (in a month... or so)

    If the docking system works and the docking(s) go smoothly, what was the problem with Dragon? I mean, can't they just copy & paste the docking system software/hardware onto everything that wants to take it?

    Dragon, CST-100, Orion (MPCV) etc.

  7. mhenriday
    Pint

    Kudos to the designers, manufacturers, and programmers of the Edoardo Amaldi !

    While Reg bloggers would indeed do well to cease insisting on «28000 kph», still the success of the vehicle in getting its velocity in the ISS' reference frame down to zero is no mean feat. Hoping for more of the same !...

    Henri

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