The five ATVs were named after important European figures in science and engineering: "Jules Verne", "Johannes Kepler", "Edoardo Amaldi", "Albert Einstein", and "Georges Lemaître". Following several delays to the program, the first of these was launched in March 2008. These ATVs performed supply missions to the ISS, transporting various payloads such as propellant, water, air, food, and scientific research equipment; ATVs also reboosted the station into a higher orbit while docked. The ATV was an uncrewed platform that operated with a high level of automation, such as its docking sequence; at no point was it used for transporting passengers.