ESA Fifth ATV named after Georges Lemaitre

Georges Lemaitre teaching at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. In 1927, Georges Lemaitre discovered a family of solutions to Einstein's relativity equations that described an expanding Universe rather than a static one, and provided the first observational estimation of the Hubble constant. 

The theory later became much better known as the Big Bang theory. Naming ESA's fifth Automated Transfer Vehicle after Belgian scientist Georges Lemaitre continues the tradition of drawing on great European visionaries to reflect Europe's deep roots in science, technology and culture. 

Credits: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

ESA's Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATVs) are an essential contribution by Europe to running the International Space Station. Naming the fifth after Belgian scientist Georges Lemaitre continues the tradition of drawing on great European visionaries to reflect Europe's deep roots in science, technology and culture.

The first Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), which made a flawless flight in 2008, was named after French science fiction writer Jules Verne. It was followed in 2011 by ATV-2, named in honour of German mathematician and astronomer Johannes Kepler.

It will be the turn of the third ATV, named after the Italian physicist and space pioneer Edoardo Amaldi, to head towards the Space Station on 9 March.

ATV-4, aiming for launch in early 2013, carries the name of Albert Einstein.

Naming the last vehicle of the family, ATV-5, after Belgian physicist Georges Lemaitre, father of the Big Bang theory, continues this approach.

The name, proposed by Belgium's delegation to ESA, was endorsed on 14-15 February by the ESA Programme Board responsible for Space Station matters during a meeting at ESA Headquarters in Paris.

On that occasion, ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain said: "Belgium has been a key participant in the European space adventure since its very beginning.

"Its contribution to ESA programmes and activities in general, and to the International Space Station in particular, has been a success for both Belgium and ESA.

"By naming ATV-5 after Georges Lemaitre, we honour a world-class Belgian scientist who was instrumental in expanding our knowledge of the origins of the Universe."

The Belgian Minister responsible for Space, Paul Magnette, noted: "I am extremely happy that the great Belgian scientist George Lemaitre, born in my hometown, is honoured in this way.