ESA Ariane-5 ES Launch: Last ATV-5 (Georges Lemaître) launched to ISS

Liftoff of an Ariane 5 launcher from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana with ESA’s last Automated Transfer Vehicle to the International Space Station, on 29 July 2014. 

Georges Lemaître is the fifth ATV built and launched by ESA as part of Europe’s contribution to cover the operational costs for using the Space Station. 

Credits: ESA–S. Corvaja, 2014 

The fifth in the series of the largest spacecraft ever built in Europe is also the heaviest load an Ariane 5 has ever launched.

ATV-5 is set to carry almost 6.6 tonnes of supplies to the orbital outpost, including a record amount of dry cargo: around 2682 kg.

Georges Lemaîtres will deliver experiments, equipment, spare parts, water, air and even artwork to the six astronauts living in space.

ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst will be responsible for docking and unloading the cargo when ATV arrives at its destination around two weeks after launch.

A final view of ATV Georges Lemaître through a hatch in the payload fairing atop the Ariane 5 launcher, in the BAF (Final Assembly Building), on 26 July 2014.

Credit: ESA