Author Topic: ATV-5 Georges Lemaître, launching right now !  (Read 1062 times)

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Offline Hellzed

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ATV-5 Georges Lemaître, launching right now !
Quote from: CNES website
ATV-5 Georges Lemaître, Europe’s fifth and final Automated Transfer Vehicle, will be orbited on the night of 29 to 30 July atop an Ariane 5 ES rocket to supply the International Space Station. It was decided to delay the VA219 launch, previously scheduled on the night of 24 to 25 July, in order to proceed with complementary verifications on the Ariane 5 ES launch system.

European Space Agency and CNES are streaming the event live from French Guiana :
http://www.cnes.fr/web/CNES-en/10082-follow-ariane-launch-live.php

The ATV spaceships are basically refuel and resupply units for the the International Space Station. (and these things are pretty big)

Enjoy !

 

Offline Goober5000

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Re: ATV-5 Georges Lemaître, launching right now !
:yes:

And this is the last ATV, unfortunately.  I wish ESA hadn't decided to discontinue them after this mission.

 

Offline Hellzed

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Re: ATV-5 Georges Lemaître, launching right now !
It's not exactly the end though. The Orion service module will be a modified ATV.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_Service_Module

 

Offline Goober5000

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Re: ATV-5 Georges Lemaître, launching right now !
The technology will continue to be used, yes.  But the unique capabilities that the ATV provides for the ISS will be lost after this mission.