Jules Verne approaches the ISS - double flybys in the offing

The European Space Agency's unmanned Jules Verne cargo carrier is maneuvering around the International Space Station this weekend and the two spacecraft are drawing very close together in the night sky.

Maneuvers ending on March 29th will leave Jules Verne parked only 16 km from the ISS. Two nights later, on March 31st, Jules Verne will come within a mere 11 meters of the station before backing away again.

If these practice runs succeed, the cargo carrier will perform an actual, automated docking on April 3rd.

European sky watchers can see these events with their own eyes as the two spacecraft fly over their continent in the evenings ahead; visit http://heavens-above.com for European flyby timetables and check http://spaceweather.com for photos, movies and updates.