Europe's ATV-5 Space Cargo Ship Mission in Pictures

ATV-5 Rollout #4

Ariane 5 flight VA219, set to carry the fifth and final Automated Transfer Vehicle, ATV-5 (Georges Lemaître) into orbit, rolls to the launch pad at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana for a scheduled launch on July 29, 2014.

Ariane 5 Rocket Carrying ATV-5 Rollout

The Ariane 5 rocket rolls out to the launch pad, carrying the ATV-5 cargo spaceship for launch on July 29, 2014, from the Spaceport in French Guiana.

Ariane 5 in the BAF Before Rollout

Launch of the fifth Automated Transfer Vehicle, ATV-5, from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, will take place on July 29, 2014. Here the rocket is shown inside the Final Assembly Building.

Flight VA219’s Ariane 5 on Mobile Launch Table

Atop the mobile launch table, Flight VA219’s Ariane 5 carrying the ATV-5 cargo spaceship stands ready to roll out from the European Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building for transfer to the launch zone. Image released July 28, 2014.

Transfer of Ariane 5 Flight VA219 to the Launch Pad

Ariane 5 flight VA219, set to carry ATV-5 cargo ship, named Georges Lemaître, into orbit, rolls out from the BAF (Final Assembly Building) to the launch pad, on July 28, 2014.

Georges Lemaître

The European Space Agency named its fifth Automated Transfer Vehicle after Belgian scientist Georges Lemaître. Image released February 16, 2012.

ATV-5 on Ariane 5 Prior to Encapsulation

ESA’s fifth and final Automated Transfer Vehicle, Georges Lemaître, will deliver more than 5732 lbs. (2600 kg.) of dry cargo to the International Space Station. Its launch is set for 29 July 2014 on an Ariane 5 from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

ATV Cutaway

A cutaway diagram details ESA’s Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATV), which supply the International Space Station with fuel and cargo.

Artist’s View of ATV-5 Reentry

An artist's illustration shows ESA’s fifth and last Automated Transfer Vehicle, named Georges Lemaître, burning up in Earth's atmosphere after delivering supplies to the International Space Station in the summer of 2014.

BUC Infrared Camera and SatCom

The Automated Transfer Vehicle Break-Up Camera sits at left, incorporating the Infrared Camera instrument and SatCom device (right) to be flown on ESA's final ATV. The camera will record infrared footage from the inside of the spacecraft as it reenters the atmosphere and breaks up.