The powerful Ariane-5 takes off from french Guiana. Next ATV, Johannes Kepler is planned to be launched in November 2010.

The ATV, weighing more than 20 tonnes, is well protected at the top of Ariane 5 during the three minutes of high pressure aerodynamic ascent.

100 minutes after lift-off, the ATV becomes a fully automatic spaceship navigating towards the International Space Station (ISS)

Three days after launch, the ATV uses its eye-like rendezvous sensors to dock precisely and safely with the ISS.

The ATV becomes an extension of the station. The 45 m³ pressurised module of the ATV delivers up to 6.6 tonnes of equipment, fuel, food, water and air for the crew.

The ATV may use up to 4 tonnes of propellant to raise the ISS altitude which naturally decreases with the residual atmospheric drag.

After 6 months, the ATV, loaded with 6.5 tonnes of waste, separates from ISS and fully burns out during a guided and controlled re-entry high over the Pacific.