Well, actually, ATV-5 isn’t bobbing any more! Georges Lemaître has been unloaded – together with 80 sea containers of equipment – and is now ready to start the intensive pre-launch campaign in Kourou. Here’s the PR from our colleagues at Arianespace.

Arianespace is readying to launch the latest Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), while ATV Albert Einstein – orbited by the company in June – has completed its successful servicing mission to the International Space Station.

The latest Automated Transfer Vehicle – known as Georges Lemaître – completed its trans-Atlantic voyage aboard the AGATA M cargo ship this week, arriving at French Guiana's Pariacabo Port. Credit: Arianespace

The latest Automated Transfer Vehicle – known as Georges Lemaître – completed its trans-Atlantic voyage aboard the AGATA M cargo ship this week, arriving at French Guiana’s Pariacabo Port. Credit: Arianespaceur c

The final ATV to be launched by Arianespace under current arrangements with the European Space Agency (ESA) has completed its voyage across the Atlantic Ocean and arrived at French Guiana’s Pariacabo Port aboard the AGATA M cargo ship.

It was transported in three special containers from Bremen, Germany, to South America, along with 80 sea containers of test equipment.

The spacecraft’s final assembly will be carried out at the Spaceport, including the Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC), solar panels and the separation and distancing module (SDM) which forms the interface between the ATV and its Ariane 5 launcher.

This Automated Transfer Vehicle – designated Georges Lemaître – is planned by ESA for launch from the Spaceport in French Guiana next year with Arianespace’s Ariane 5 ES version, which has been utilized for all ATV launches to date.

Named after Belgian physicist Georges Lemaître – father of the big bang theory – the latest ATV follows the tradition of recognizing European leaders in science, technology and culture.

ATV Georges Lemaître is the fifth resupply spacecraft as part of Europe’s Automated Transfer Vehicle program, which has ferried scientific experiments, water, gases, propellant, spare parts, food and clothing to the manned orbital facility on four missions to date – all launched by Arianespace.

Full text via Arianespace web