Albert Einstein

You may be surprised to hear it, but Albert Einstein is headed toward the International Space Station to deliver a ton of research. When can the crew expect their guest? June 15.

Although Einstein probably would have loved to work in a space laboratory that has an instrument studying dark matter, it is not the scientific genius who will be stopping by; rather, it is the European Space Agency's unmanned Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) 4, which was named in honor of the 20th century theoretical physicist and icon of modern science. Science is the main reason for the visit, and that would likely have pleased the influential scientist.

An Ariane-5 rocket

launched June 5 from Guiana Space Center near Kourou in French Guiana, sending the ATV-4 to the space station loaded with about 1,049 pounds (476 kilograms) of supplies, including equipment to keep science happening in the orbiting laboratory.