In the first-ever docking by a European spacecraft in orbit, an expendable "space truck" named the "Jules Verne" made contact with the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, according to dpa. A live telecast to the ground showed how computers guided the arriving craft throughout the slow manoeuvre. Operators observing the arrival announced, "Contact" as an extendable probe touched, just before the two space vehicles locked together. The Jules Verne, which brought nearly 6 tons of food, fuel and other supplies to the three astronauts on the ISS, is the first automated transfer vehicle (ATV) in a series of five.
