International space station docks successfully with Zvezda module
In the early hours of 26 July, the two-element international space station (ISS) docked successfully with the Zvezda service module. This makes Zvezda's European computer system ready to take over control of the now three element ISS. The state of the art computer system supplied by the European Space Agency is the first European hardware to be delivered to the Space Station. Flight engineers will spend the coming days testing the mechanisms holding the elements together and ensuring that all seals are tight. About three days after docking, the European computer, 'the data management system' will be connected to the space station systems and Zvezda will be commanded to assume control of the space station. The data management system was developed and manufactured in Europe by an industrial consortium led by Astrium space infrastructure (formerly DaimlerChrysler) of Bremen, Germany. ESA supplied the system to the Russian Space Agency, Rosaviakosmos, in return for two flight-unit docking systems for use with ESA's Automated Transfer vehicle, a supply craft bound for the ISS. It will be launched on Ariane-5 from 2004. ESA is one of five international partners in the ISS project. The others are the United States, Russia, Canada and Japan. neurs to
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