A
ariesr
Guest
<p>Hi,</p><p> </p><p>I noticed with interest the recent article on Jules Verne craft on it's final voyage.</p><p> </p><p>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7598980.stm </p><p> </p><p>What surprised me is that the vehicle, as impressive as it is, will now burn up in the atmosphere. To my mind, this is a huge waste of money having to build a new one each time in order to send supplies/kit to the ISS. </p><p>I was slightly relieved when I read the extract from the article below: </p><p><strong><em>The question then remains as to what Esa wants to do with the technology. It is already committed to flying another four cargo missions to the ISS, but there is a strong desire among agency management and in industry to turn the ATV into a crewed vessel. </em></strong></p><p><strong><em>This would see the propulsion and avionics section of the ATV being fitted with a capsule that could survive re-entry and bring astronauts safely back to Earth. </em></strong></p><p><strong><em>EADS-Astrium believes a step-by-step programme with a budget of a couple of billion euros could evolve the current unmanned design into a fully independent European crew space transportation system.</em></strong></p><p> </p><p>Any thoughts? </p><p> </p>