ESA - Edoardo Amaldi ATV-3 Mission patch.
23 March 2012
ATV-3 Launch
ESA’s third Automated Transfer Vehicle, Edoardo Amaldi, has been launched from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, with a night-time liftoff at 05:34 CET (04:34 GMT). Edoardo Amaldi is the heaviest payload ever launched by an Ariane rocket.
Liftoff of Ariane 5 VA205 with ATV-3
Using the Ariane 5 ES version of Arianespace’s heavy-lift workhorse, this flight will deploy the ATV into a 260-kilometer orbit – positioning the payload for its docking with the International Space Station.
Liftoff of Ariane 5 VA205 with ATV-3
The mission has a total lift performance of over 20,000 kg., which includes the ATV’s mass of more than 19,700 kg. – representing the heaviest payload ever to be orbited by Ariane 5.
Its payload is named after Italian physicist and spaceflight pioneer Edoardo Amaldi, and carries 6.6 metric tons of cargo for the International Space Station – including experiments, food, clothing, tools and spare parts, along with propellant for the multi-national crewed orbital facility.
Liftoff of Ariane 5 VA205 with ATV-3
Related links:
Arianespace: http://www.arianespace.com/index/index.asp
European Space Agency: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/index.html
Astrium: http://www.astrium.eads.net/
Images, Video, Text, Credits: ESA / S. Corvaja / Arianespace.
Best regards, Orbiter.ch
