ATV „Jules Verne“ - Flown cover onboard Ariane 5 and STS-126

ATV “Jules Verne” / STS-126 Flown ISS Cover – Launched aboard Ariane 5 and Returned aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour – Official Airbus Presentation – Jacques Bracke Collection

An exceptional double-flown European and American spaceflight artifact, consisting of a cover carried into orbit aboard ESA’s historic first Automated Transfer Vehicle, ATV-1 Jules Verne, subsequently transferred aboard the International Space Station and ultimately returned to Earth aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-126.

Jules Verne launched from Kourou, French Guiana, aboard a specially adapted Ariane 5 ES on March 9, 2008, becoming Europe’s first autonomous resupply spacecraft for the International Space Station. At nearly 20 tonnes at launch, it represented the heaviest payload yet launched by Ariane 5 and demonstrated Europe’s ability to autonomously rendezvous and dock with the ISS. It docked with the station on April 3, delivering supplies, propellant, water and oxygen and later performing station reboost maneuvers.

Unlike the ATV itself—which was deliberately destroyed during atmospheric re-entry on September 29, 2008—the present cover had been removed from Jules Verne while docked to the ISS and retained aboard the station, enabling its remarkable second journey aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour.

STS-126 launched in November 2008 with Commander Christopher Ferguson, Pilot Eric Boe, and Mission Specialists Stephen Bowen, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Donald Pettit, Robert “Shane” Kimbrough, and Sandra Magnus. Magnus remained aboard the ISS as an Expedition 18 crew member, while Gregory Chamitoff returned to Earth aboard Endeavour. The Shuttle landed at Edwards Air Force Base on November 30, 2008, completing the cover’s return from orbit.

The flown cover is housed in an official Airbus presentation folder, accompanied by additional unflown commemorative covers, preserving the original presentation context of this important European spaceflight artifact.

Provenance: From the personal collection of renowned astrophilatelist Jacques Bracke.

Condition: Excellent to Mint.

A particularly compelling artifact of international spaceflight history—launched from Europe’s spaceport aboard Ariane 5 inside the first ATV, carried aboard the International Space Station, and returned to Earth aboard NASA’s Space Shuttle Endeavour. Few philatelic artifacts so elegantly connect the European ATV program, the ISS, Ariane 5, and the Space Shuttle era within a single flown object.