Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2011/05/26/atv_einstein/
Fourth Euro star truck christened Albert Einstein
Space station robot delivery van honours physics legend
Posted in Science, 26th May 2011 13:32 GMT
The European Space Agency's next Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) to roll off the production line will be called Albert Einstein.
Space trucks Jules Verne (ATV-1) and Johannes Kepler (ATV-2, pictured above) have already carried supplies to the International Space Station, and will be followed in February next year by Edoardo Amaldi (ATV-3).
Albert Einstein (ATV-4) is being built (see pic) at various sites across Europe, ahead of a 2013 launch. The name was proposed by the ESA's Swiss delegation, since although the physicist was born in Germany, he "studied and spent his early career in Switzerland". ®