The ATV potentials
The ATV enabled ESA to acquire the knowledge to automatically dock an unmanned spacecraft to another.
Has the US done this?
Yet, it's vital if we want to get samples back from Mars.
The ATV brings more stuff to the station and pushes it more than the Progress can do and it's Europe contribution to the ISS which can also serve key unmanned space missions.
And also, the ATV can eventually become a mean to return back things or expand the station. It is more flexible than the shuttle.
And the ATV is launched from Kourou, 5 degrees from the equator.