European Space Agency helps out NASA

With the U.S. Shuttle Fleet surviving on duct tape and a prayer, the European Space Agency and its fleet of Ariane family of rockets and boosters has proven to be more reliable and dependable than the 30 year old Shuttle fleet. 

While the United States has wasted trillions of dollars into an over bloated and inefficient military, the European Space Agency has become the world leader in satellite launches into low earth orbit. The successful launch of the Ariane 5 rocket supplying the International Space Station is another symbol of the declining world power status of America.
 

On Wednesday, February 16, Arianespace’s first mission of the year successfully launched the second ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle), designated Johannes Kepler, for the European Space Agency.

 

200th Ariane launch, 56th Ariane 5 launch, 42nd success in a row. 

This latest successful Ariane 5 launch, the 200th Ariane launch and the first mission in 2011, once again proves the launcher’s operational capabilities. Ariane 5 handles a complete range of missions, from commercial launches into geostationary orbit to dedicated launches into special orbits. 

The 56th launch of an Ariane 5, and 42nd successful mission in a row, clearly demonstrates the launcher’s reliability and availability. It also set a new payload record, by boosting more than 20 metric tons into low Earth orbit. 

Today’s mission confirms that Arianespace’s launch Service & Solutions continue to set the global standard and guarantee independent access to space for all customers, including national and international space agencies, private firms and governments.

Second successful Ariane 5 ES launch 

For the ATV2 Johannes Kepler mission, Arianespace used the Ariane 5 ES version of the launcher. It was the second successful launch of this version,  following the original ATV1 Jules Verne mission in March 2008. 

Arianespace uses the Ariane 5 ES version to launch ATV cargo vessels to the International Space Station. Ariane 5 ES uses the same lower composite as the standard Ariane 5 ECA launcher, comprising the cryogenic main stage and solid boosters, plus a special upper composite, the EPS reignitable storable propellant stage. 

A new mission for the Guiana Space Center

Today’s launch marks Arianespace’s second mission to the International Space Station, confirming the Guiana Space Center’s membership in the highly select “club” of launch sites serving the Space Station, alongside Baikonur, Cape Canaveral and Tanegashima.