* Astronomy

Ariane 5 ES V-200 with ATV 2 Johannes Kepler Frist Launch Attempt

Watch the launch of ATV Johannes Kepler live

ESAs second Automated Transfer Vehicle, will be launched today, 16 February 2011, at 21:50 GMT (22:50 CET) by an Ariane 5 from Europes Spaceport in Kourou to deliver critical supplies and reboost the International Space Station.
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Launch of European cargo ship delayed at least 24 hours

Launch of a powerful Ariane 5 rocket carrying a European cargo craft bound for the International Space Station was delayed at least 24 hours Tuesday by a technical glitch in the final stages of the countdown. The delay could impact NASA's plans to launch the shuttle Discovery to the station on Feb. 24.
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The new launch date for this historic mission - which will be the 200th flight of an Ariane vehicle, with the heaviest payload ever for an Ariane 5 - is now set for February 16 at 21hr. 50min. 55 sec. Universal Time, or 18hr. 50min. 55sec. local time at the Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

ARIANESPACE FLIGHT 200 - ATV-2 "Johannes Kepler"

The launch readiness review (RAL) took place in Kourou on Sunday, February 13 and authorized count-down operations for the ATV-2 "Johannes Kepler" launch.
For its first mission of the year, Arianespace will launch the first Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), dubbed "Johannes Kepler", for the European Space Agency (ESA). Right from this first launch, the ATV will play a vital role in bringing supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).
The choice of Arianespace by leading space communications operators and manufacturers is clear international recognition of the companys excellence in launch services.
It will be launched from the Ariane launch complex N° 3 (ELA3), in Kourou, French Guiana.
The ARIANE 5 ECA Launcher Lift-Off for this flight is scheduled on February 15, 2011 at a precise instant:

>> Kourou Time: 07:13:27 pm on February 15, 2011.
>> Launch opportunity (UT): 10:13:27 pm on February 15, 2011.
>> Paris Time: 11:13:27 pm on February 15, 2011.
>> Washington Time: 04:13:27 pm on February 15, 2011.

Source Arianespace