One size does not fit all
ATV Albert Einstein, as all spacecraft, needs a specific launcher adapter to connect the spacecraft to its Ariane rocket. We received some great pictures of Ariane's 'crowning' in Kourou and the whole...
View ArticleThe making of ATV-4
Before Europe's advanced space transporter is ready for launch on its voyage to the International Space Station, the components that make up ATV Albert Einstein have traveled quite some kilometers over...
View ArticleRolled out and ready to rock
Ariane 5 flight VA 213 with ATV Albert Einstein on board is ready for lift off from Europe's Spaceport: we're going to Station! Scroll down for a selection of photos showing what's been happening in...
View ArticleATV-4′s 6 million km voyage to the International Space Station
Boat, aircraft and then Ariane launcher to the International Space Station...
View ArticleAriane 5 and ATV-4: Rocking into space
Time-lapse video: Ariane 5 flight VA213, with ATV Albert Einstein on board. Lift off was Wednesday, 5 June 2013, at 23:52 CEST. Hope you enjoy this video - we certainly are! Credit: ESA/S. Corvaja, M....
View ArticleEurope’s fifth ATV for launch by Arianespace begins its pre-flight checkout...
The Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) Georges Lemaître has begun preflight checkout in the Spaceport’s clean room facilities, following its arrival in French Guiana for a scheduled Ariane 5 flight next...
View ArticleUnwrapping ATV-5
Found this morning in the Twittersphere from @SpaceShuttleAlmanac, originally via our friends at Arianespace: Nice pesent for the people at Kourou, the unwrapping of the new #ESA #ATV5 due for launch...
View ArticleRain and Solar Arrays in Kourou
Charlotte Beskow updates us on ATV-5work in Kourou, French Guiana: Raindrops are falling on our heads.... Sunday 12 January, was one of the wettest days I have ever experienced. On Monday meteo France...
View ArticleATV-5 moves to final assembly building in Kourou
Update from ESA's ATV cargo integration engineer Kirsten MacDonnell from Kourou. This afternoon, we're transferring ATV-5 to the BAF (Batiment d’Assemblage Final). This photo shows the CNES team moving...
View ArticleAriane 5 & ATV at Kourou’s launch pad No. 3
Ariane 5 ES v200 launcher with ATV Johannes Kepler on board seen today during transfer to ZL-3 (launch pad 3) at Kourou. Credit: ESA/S. Corvaja, 2011 Ariane 5 ES launcher v200 photographed on 14...
View ArticleUpdate from Kourou: Launch Control Centre
This just in from ESA's Charlotte Beslow: One bad quality photo and one taken this morning of the panneau des infos. Coming in to work, people gave me the thumbs up! We are in the Jupiter Control Room...
View ArticleAriane update: What’s happening in Kourou?
Here at ATV-CC Toulouse, we're in 'wait mode' for tonight's big event, but in Kourou, teams are busy now with final Ariane 5 launch preparations. It will be the 200th Ariane flight, lofting the...
View ArticlePhotos just in from ESA team in Kourou
Charlotte Breskow reports: The ATV is ON. Gyros are warming up. Perfect time for a little break since their warm-up time is about 1 hour! ESA's ATV Programme Manager Nico Dettmann on console this...
View ArticleCharlotte in Kourou: 7 hours to go!
ESA's Charlotte Beskow in Kourou just sent us a mail: I am now on console. As I lift my head I see four clocks showing: +14:53 || 21:50 || -06:57 || -06:57 ... and my PC tells me "11:54" and my...
View ArticleATV-3 arrives in Kourou
ATV-3 arrived on board MN Toucan, a French cargo ship normally used by Arianespace to transport Ariane rocket elements, which steamed 13 days from Bremerhaven, departing 6 August. ATV-3 was unloaded...
View ArticleGalileo launch minus 5 days!!!
ATV-3 launch: Day 59 of the Launch Campaign - Saturday, 15 Oct The latest update from ESA’s Charlotte Beskow in Kourou – Ed. What were you doing this morning? Celebrating France's win in the Rugby Semi...
View ArticleMV Sonja en route to Kourou
Carrying a very special cargo: ATV-4! The fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle, Albert Einstein, departed Bremen harbour last Friday, 31 August, heading to Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana....
View ArticleProcessing is underway with the next Automated Transfer Vehicle to be orbited...
Initial checkout has begun at the Spaceport for Europe’s fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), which is to be launched from French Guiana by Arianespace on a servicing mission to the International...
View ArticleLate Cargo Access dress rehearsal
Kirsten MacDonell, ESA's Cargo Integration Engineer who oversees cargo activities on ATV sent us this update from Kourou: The ATV-4 team finished a dress rehearsal for the new Late Cargo Access Means...
View ArticleATV-4 moving to S5B
One of our favourite views of any ATV launch campaign: moving the assembled and fuelled vessel on a giant skid to the S5B preparation zone in Kourou. From there, it will undergo final launch...
View ArticleATV Albert Einstein is installed on its Ariane 5 launcher for Arianespace’s...
Arianespace marked one of the final steps in preparations for the next Ariane 5 launch as Europe’s latest Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) was integrated atop the heavy-lift workhorse at the Spaceport....
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