Arianespace to Launch ATV Tuesday

THE LAUNCH READINESS REVIEW (RAL) took place in Kourou on Sunday, February 13 and authorized count-down operations for the ATV-2 “Johannes Kepler” launch set for 4:13 PM EST, Tuesday, February 15, 2011, [video]. Readers may watch the launch LIVE here.

For its first mission of the year, Arianespace will launch the first Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), dubbed “Johannes Kepler”, for the European Space Agency (ESA). Right from this first launch, the ATV will play a vital role in bringing supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).