spacetoday.net: ATV undocks from ISS

ATV undocks from ISS

Posted: Wed, Oct 30, 2013, 7:25 AM ET (1125 GMT)
ATV-4 docking to the ISS (ESA)

A European robotic cargo spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station on Monday in advance of its destructive reentry later this week. The Automated Transfer Vehicle 4 (ATV-4) spacecraft, also known as Albert Einstein, undocked from the station's Zvezda module at 4:55 am EDT (0855 GMT) Monday. The spacecraft, which docked with the station on June 15, was loaded with waste from the station prior to departure. ATV-4 is scheduled to reenter Saturday morning and burn up in the atmosphere, a maneuver that will be monitored from the station. A fifth and final ATV spacecraft is slated for launch next year.