spacetoday.net: Ariane launches fourth ATV cargo spacecraft

Ariane launches fourth ATV cargo spacecraft

Posted: Thu, Jun 6, 2013, 9:29 AM ET (1329 GMT)
Ariane 5 launch of ATV-4 (Arianespace)

An Ariane 5 launched the fourth in a series of European cargo spacecraft bound for the International Space Station on Wednesday. The Ariane 5 ES lifted off on schedule at 5:52 pm EDT (2152 GMT) Wednesday and placed the Automated Transfer Vehicle 4 (ATV-4) into low Earth orbit. The spacecraft, nicknamed Albert Einstein, weighed a record 20,190 kilograms at launch, and carries nearly 6,600 kilograms of food, water, propellant, and other cargo for the ISS. ATV-4 is scheduled to dock with the station on June 15. The spacecraft is the next to last in a series of cargo spacecraft provided by ESA as part of its commitments to support ISS operations.