Arianespace confirms 4th Automated Transfer Vehicle ready to launch

The fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) is ready at Europe's Spaceport to meet up with Ariane5, Arianespace announced in a statement mailed to Xinhua on Thursday. "Fueling has been completed at the Spaceport in French Guiana for Europe's fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), readying it for a planned June launch with Arianespace's workhorse Ariane 5 on an International Space Station servicing mission," the airspace company confirmed. "The loading of propellant, along with a supply of gas, was performed in the Spaceport's S5 payload preparation facility, where the vessel also was integrated and received its cargo. With this step finalized, the ATV is ready for transfer to the Ariane 5 Final Assembly Building, where it will be installed atop the launcher," Airanespace noted. Named after Albert Einstein, this ATV payload will have a liftoff mass of 20,235 kg, "becoming the heaviest spacecraft ever lofted by Ariane 5," Airanespace detailed. It carries the most diverse cargo mix of any ATV mission so far, consisting of fuel, water, air, oxygen and dry cargo for delivery to the International Space Station. In addition, the ATV will serve to adjust the orbital facility's altitude and make maneuvers to avoid collisions with space debris, the company introduced. According to Airanespace, the liftoff of ATV Albert Einstein is scheduled for June 5 from the Spaceport. Arianespace is responsible for launching all ATVs, and has orbited three of them to date: ATV Edoardo Amaldi in 2012, ATV Johannes Kepler in 2011 and ATV Jules Verne in 2008.