BERALCAST 363 - ATV ''Johannes Kepler'' European Space Agency Project -

The Metals division of BFi OPTiLAS France, is supplying brackets to Astrium for the ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle), the ESA space transport vehicle servicing the International Space Station.

These brackets are made of Beralcast 363, an outstanding aluminium-beryllium alloy, and are used to hold the thrusters involved in the front attitude control system of the ATV.

On February 24. 2011, the second ATV flight model called “Johannes Kepler” successfully docked to the ISS.

"It went as smooth as we could have dreamed it would" , European Space Agency Director-General Jean-Jacques Dordain told BBC News.

For more information, please visit the ATV blog http://blogs.esa.int/atv/