MISSION NAME
Johannes Kepler ATV (ATV-002) 002
Status
Success
DATE
16 FEB 2011
LAUNCH PROVIDER
Arianespace
Launch Pad
Ariane Launch Area 3
Description
ATV-2 is the Automated Transfer Vehicle operated by the European Space Agency (ESA) to resupply the international space station (ISS) with propellant, water, air and dry cargo. After 8 days in orbit it docked to the ISS on 24th February 2011.
Ariane 5 ES
Rocket Description
The Ariane 5 ES (Evolution Storable) has an estimated LEO launch capacity of 21,000 kg (46,000 lb). It includes all the performance improvements of Ariane 5 ECA core and boosters but replaces the ESC-A second stage with the restartable EPS used on Ariane 5 GS variants. It was used to launch the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) into a 260 km circular low Earth orbit inclined at 51.6° and has been used 3 times to launch 4 Galileo navigation satellites at a time directly into their operational orbit. The Ariane 5 ES flew 8 times from 2008 to 2018 with no failures.