Jules Verne is ready to dock with the ISS

PARIS, April 1 (UPI) -- The European Space Agency said its Jules Verne spacecraft has completed its second test and is ready to dock with the International Space Station.

The automated transfer vehicle approached Monday to about 36 feet from the space station's docking port on the Russian Zvezda module. The approach was part of a second demonstration that cleared the way for Thursday's first rendezvous and docking attempt.

"I'm known for my understatements, but the only word that comes to mind about today is impressive," said John Ellwood, ESA's ATV Project Manager. "It was impressive to see how Jules Verne, the staff at the ATV Control Center, the control centers in Moscow and Houston pulled together … it was a perfect dress-rehearsal for Thursday."

The Monday test was the first to involve the active participation of the ISS crew. Once the ATV reached the 36-foot stand-off point, the astronauts issued a retreat command, moving the spacecraft back to the 62-foot point. The crew then issued an escape command, which automatically took Jules Verne to a safe location away from the space station.

The spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the ISS at 10:41 a.m. EDT Thursday.