ATV-2 Johannes Kepler Readied for ISS

ATV-2 Johannes Kepler is almost ready for launch on February 15, 2011 from Europe’s Spaceport. It will be the heaviest load ever lofted into space by the Ariane 5 rocket, making the 200th flight of the European launcher even more spectacular.

ESA's latest Automated Transfer Vehicle space ferry, named after the German astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler, is now fully fuelled, its oxygen tanks are filled and most of the cargo from ESA and NASA is placed inside. More from ESA.

The European ATV-2 Johannes Kepler will follow the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle “KOUNOTORI2” (HTV2) scheduled for liftoff from the Tanegashima Space Center, Japan on January 20, 2011.