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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Hellzed on July 29, 2014, 06:12:06 pm

Title: ATV-5 Georges Lemaître, launching right now !
Post by: Hellzed on July 29, 2014, 06:12:06 pm

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 (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 !

Title: Re: ATV-5 Georges Lemaître, launching right now !
Post by: Goober5000 on August 05, 2014, 01:22:13 am

:yes:

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

Title: Re: ATV-5 Georges Lemaître, launching right now !
Post by: Hellzed on August 07, 2014, 05:47:39 am

It's not exactly the end though. The Orion service module will be a modified ATV.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_Service_Module

Title: Re: ATV-5 Georges Lemaître, launching right now !
Post by: Goober5000 on August 07, 2014, 10:46:17 pm

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.