EU's Jules Verne boosts ISS orbit

PARIS, April 26 (UPI) -- The European Space Agency's Jules Verne ATV was used for the first time Friday to raise the orbit of the International Space Station.

A 740-second burn of the Automated Transfer Vehicle's main engines lifted the ISS nearly 2.8 miles to a height of more than 212 miles above Earth, the space agency said Friday in a release.

ESA Mission Director Alberto Novelli said the space station's altitude naturally decreases with atmospheric drag.

The re-boost sets up the International Space Station for the arrival of NASA's Discovery space shuttle, which is targeted for a May 31 launch.

The Jules Verne, an unmanned cargo re-supply space vehicle, is scheduled to remain docked to the International Space Station until early August when it will undock and then burn up completely during re-entry over the Pacific Ocean, ESA said.