Ariane 5 soars with final ATV cargo craft

BY STEPHEN CLARK
SPACEFLIGHT NOW

Posted: July 30, 2014


The last of Europe's automated cargo freighters blasted off from a South American spaceport Tuesday, soaring into orbit in pursuit of the International Space Station with 7.3 tons of fuel, food and supplies.

Part refueling tanker and part cargo hauler, Europe's fifth Automated Transfer Vehicle launched aboard an Ariane 5 rocket at 2347 GMT (7:47 p.m. EDT) from the Guiana Space Center, a high-tech spaceport carved from the edge of the Amazon jungle.

As the countdown clock reached zero, the Ariane 5's Vulcain 2 core engine ignited. Following a computer-controlled health check, the rocket's twin strap-on boosters lit and the Ariane 5 moved skyward.

The 16-story launcher raced into the night over French Guiana, lighting up the space center in an orange glow as the rumble of the rocket reached spectators and villagers miles away.

The Ariane 5 surpassed the speed of sound in 48 seconds, then let go of two large solid-fueled boosters about 2 minutes, 24 seconds into the flight. The hydrogen-fueled Vulcain 2 engine continued firing for 9 minutes before emptying its propellant tanks.

A nearly cloud-free sky afforded dazzling views of the launch as the rocket dimmed before finally disappearing as it flew hundreds of miles northeast of the space base.

See our Mission Status Center for the latest news on the mission.

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG

Photo credit: ESA/S. Corvaja

Photo credit: ESA/S. Corvaja

Photo credit: ESA/S. Corvaja

Photo credit: ESA/S. Corvaja

Photo credit: ESA/S. Corvaja

Photo credit: ESA/S. Corvaja

Photo credit: ESA/S. Corvaja

Photo credit: ESA/S. Corvaja

Photo credit: ESA/S. Corvaja

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