The Ariane rocket travels to the international space station
KOUROU, French Guiana (Reuters) – an unmanned Ariane rocket took off last year, according to the authorities in the early hours of Friday from French Guiana in the first European supply mission to the international space station since the end of the US shuttle program. The modified Ariane rocket took off at 04: 34 GMT from the Centre’s launch of the European Space Agency in Kourou, French Guiana, in the northeast of South America, taking more than six tonnes of cargo. U.S. space shuttles were major suppliers of cargo to the international space station, but a final mission of 12 days of the Atlantis spacecraft in July of 2011 ended the program who already met 30 years. The European fleet of vehicles of transfer automated (VTA) is now key to bring supplies to the international space station. More than one hour after the launch, Edoardo Amaldi automated transfer vehicle – named to a physicist and pioneer of flights space 20th century Italian – separated from the Ariane rocket. It is scheduled to dock at the space station on March 28. Built by an industrial consortium led by EADS ASTRIUM, a division of the EADS European industrial giant, the drone is designed for delivery of fuel, food, clothing and oxygen to the crew of the international space station, as well as spare parts. Is the third VTA Europe has provided...
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