'Jules Verne' ESA ATV launch !!

[basstemperature]

launch of ATV kepler today on arianespace TV : from paris 23h13 (pm), kourou 19h13 (pm) from USA : houston at 16h13 (pm) , from moscow 13h13 (pm)

TV transmission ready nearly 15 min before launch on arianespace TV

[techdefined]

Very well done ESA and Ariane for this perfect mission and this technical marvel the ATV or better Jules Verne. This is a huge step forward. The Ariane 5 is getting almost every year better and and stronger.

[XxnesiexX]

french say top for ignition-well by watching theese videos i cna improve my french

sound liek a motorbike when its launching lol

[kevmccln]

Well, Ariane would be a nice vehicle for an Orion type spacecraft. I just dunno if there's support for that. And besides, private space is slowly flexing its muscle. It's through private corporations that will get humanity into orbit and beyond, not big, government-based and funded entities like ESA or NASA.

[kapitankartoon]

I disagree with that. Private space craft have yet to be built and yet to orbit the earth. China is copying the old Soviet system over that of the NASA Apollo or shuttle. what they hope to do with it is still unknown. Unmanned launch vehicles have done 99.9 % of the science and work in space. There really is little need to put people in space unless you want to colonise. I would welcome that but i see no space agency really pushing for it.

[joshatkins94]

There's tons of reasons for human spaceflight.

The most important is measuring the impact space travel has on human biology. Robots aren't alive, and they don't have bones to be affected by microgravity. A lot of science is done in developing EVA suits - how do you protect the human body in a vacuum, what about the pressure, the radiation?

You also need the correct atmosphere on the spacecraft.

And then there's the awe-inspiring recollections of the astronauts, which provide true inspiration.

[kevmccln]

The thing is, we're running out of resources here on Earth, or *will.* But everything we need, in spades, is located on our Moon, the other moons and the asteroids out by Mars. We need hands-on expertise to get out there and find it. While robotics will play a huge role, particularly on Mars, it will still need humans to get it done.

[kapitankartoon]

I just hope this leads to a manned space craft. Europe has had a fantastic space program, Mission to Mars, The moon of Saturn, A profitible lauch service. A manned space flight capability is over due.

[jpbalkenende]

I think Europe doesn't have the incentive to follow. They are leaving spaceflight up to the market I guess (how un European ;) ). I'm fine with it the NASA program is hugely expensive and I don't see why we should spend money to do what the Americans have already done. Manned spaceflight will come here when it is economically viable I guess (Richard Branson seems to be enthusiastic about it).

[kevmccln]

I'm an American, but I'm a huge space enthusiast, and believe in an international effort. I hope most Americans and others don't dismiss this ATV as an unmanned cargo hauler. It's much more than that. The automated functions are revolutionary, and it's as big as the station's modules. Think the Italian cargo haulers the shuttle carries up to the ISS, but without the shuttle. Can the Jules Verne be overhauled into a manned capability? Europe should be proud of ATV...

[joshatkins94]

ESA are hoping that a combination of the technologies in Columbus and the ATV will be able to be used to develop a manned spacecraft. After all, the Ariane 5 is a human-rated launch vehicle, as it was designed from the ground up as a launcher for the proposed Hermes European shuttle.

[kapitankartoon]

too bad the hermes was canceled long ago. will the ESA manned craft be a space plane or a soyus like craft that China has now?

[ZemplinTemplar]

The classic type, similar to Soyuz, Apollo, Shenzhou or the currently developed Orion. It will simply be an improved ATV with a command module instead of a cargo container attached to the service module. Plus a heat shield, so the crew could return, of course. ESA's unofficial name for the CTV is Pégase (Pegasus). As far as pictures go, just google them. ;-)

[scarble]

Oh wow... a spaceship.

Why is it that watching a launch just makes me go all wide-eyed and giggly?

Especially something like this.. this is just so.. amazing.

Like kevmccln said, this is for all of us, this is the future happening, be proud people, we can do space!

I know it's just cargo but.. things are starting to happen in space now, governments and private investors and everyone. Wow.. space!!

[kevmccln]

You know, people could look at this as a Europe triumph, and a gut check for the U.S. and Russia, but I see it differently. To me, it only enhances mankind. Jules Verne is a tremendous step forward in technology, and will aid in enhancing the ISS, whose research will help all of mankind. And it eases the gap between the Space Shuttle and Orion. With Columbus up, Jules Verne successful, and JEM being assembled, it's an exciting time for the International Space Station.

[cutterschoicenotmine]

It was a bit poo, there was only about 20-25 seconds of live launch the rest was of mission op's with a graph. We wanna be able to see the launch until it dissapears, bloody french!

[ZbLuffer]

Tell me how to see a rocket through the clouds...

[kmi187]

Sweet video, thanks for sharing.

[CriX098]

Thank you! Hope the propulsion issue is resolved soon.

[JQourydxyz]

yeah nice upload

the table at the end is insane where you see the height and the speed. :o :D

[blobrana]

Good upload