A pilotless spacecraft will approach within 40ft (12m) of the International Space Station today in a final practice before the first fully automated docking.

The 20-tonne automated transfer vehicle (ATV) completed successfully an approach that took it to within 2.2 miles (3.5km) of the space station on Saturday. Jubilant controllers at the European Space Agency said that the test demonstrated the spaceship’s ability to navigate accurately.

A final test approach will be made today, when the craft moves to a position only 36ft from the space station. If all goes well, the first docking is planned for Thursday. The ATV will deliver supplies to the astronauts, including fresh underwear.

The ATV is the first craft designed to dock with the space station in an entirely automated operation. It will have to insert a pole of 3ft through an 8in-wide hole while 225 miles above the Earth and travelling at 15,660 mph (25,200km/h) relative to the Earth’s surface.

The slightest mistake could be fatal for the three astronauts on the space station. As an insurance against disaster they, and mission controllers, have a red panic button that will instantly send the ATV into an emergency escape manoeuvre. David Berthelier, one of the development team at Astrium, a space technology company, said: “The astronauts can activate the red button to abort the procedure but we are confident they won’t need to.”

The emergency procedure was tested on Saturday and will be put into operation again today to ensure that it works when the craft is close to the £50 billion station.

The ATV, the first of six craft planned to carry out supply missions to the space station, has been named the Jules Verne. Included in its cargo is a first edition copy of the 19th-century French author’s novel From the Earth to the Moon, along with two of his handwritten manuscripts. After being stamped, and perhaps read, by the astronauts they will be returned to Earth to be placed in a museum. Other cargo includes food, new uniforms, overalls and fresh underwear for the space station crew, and water.

After the deliveries have been made, the craft will be loaded up with more than two tonnes of rubbish from the space station. The waste and the ATV will then fall back towards Earth and burn up in its atmosphere.

ATVs were developed for the European Space Agency at a cost of £790 million as part of its obligation

to support the International Space Station. Five more are on order and, because the design has been proven, should each cost only £150,000.

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