
ESA MISSION UPDATE
Feb. 17, 2011
Following a spectacular launch on 16 February, Europe’s space freighter is now in its planned orbit. Mission controllers are preparing to match its trajectory with that of the International Space Station, where it will dock seven days from now.
After a one-day launch delay, ESA’s next Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), Johannes Kepler, lifted-off yesterday on an Ariane 5 launcher from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 21:50 GMT. A few minutes later, the vessel attained its initial operational orbit at 260 km altitude. Mission controllers immediately began checking out the spacecraft and ensuring that programmed sequences – including deployment of ATV’s four large solar wings – had correctly taken place.