The European Space Agency is planning a meeting during which the International Space Station's future activities will be decided.

Shortly after its planned 8 March launch to the ISS, ESA's Automated Transfer Vehicle will make the first-ever laser-guided docking in space. The vehicle's fully automated docking provides unique challenges to the multi-agency mission operations team at ESA's ATV Control Center.

Today, excitement is building on both sides of the Atlantic as the long-awaited launch of ESA’s Columbus space laboratory grows closer, as NASA starts processing Shuttle Atlantis in preparation for the mission.

German students will be given a chance to question Astronaut Thomas Reiter about his first week at the International Space Station. The European Space Agency said Reiter, from Frankfurt, will speak with secondary school students Thursday via a satellite communications link.

By Mumford, Richard At a ceremony to mark the del