ATV-3 Inside Fairing
Image Credit: ESA

Previously delayed, the European Space Agency is ready to launch the Edoardo Amaldi this evening. The mission is to provide supplies to the International Space Station, including a spare Fluids Control Pump Assembly (FCPA). This is a critical component on the ISS used to recycle urine into drinkable water and the spare is going up with ATV-3.

Following ESA’s formal Launch Readiness Review on Monday, which revealed no problems with the vessel, the launch was officially set for Friday 23 March at 0434 UTC. This is Thursday evening at 9:34 PM Phoenix time, tonight.

On Wednesday, Ariane and ATV Edoardo Amaldi were rolled out to the launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana. The total vehicle mass is 777 tonnes –the heaviest ever for an Ariane. This ATV is also the rocket’s heaviest payload so far.

As the launch countdown progresses, we will add updates and images from Kourou.

At the moment, it is 3:34 PM in Phoenix, and we are six hours from launch.

The Ariane 5 carrying ATV-3 rolled out to the launch pad yesterday, Wednesday.

Rollout Wednesday
Image Credit: ESA TV

Rollout Wednesday
Image Credit: ESA TV

With four hours until launch, there are light rain showers. The temperature is 77° Fahrenheit. Thunderstorms are predicted for later tonight with 50% chance of rain.

One hour to launch.

At 9:16 PM Phoenix time, we are less than 20 minutes from the launch of the Edoardo Amaldi. All systems are currently green. This is the 65th Ariane 5

NASA TV is also covering the launch live.

At T-minus 7 minutes we are moving into automatic computer operations. Any operational problem would require recycling to T-minus 7.

T-minus 2 minutes, and weather is good, synchronized sequence is running.

Launch and everything looks good at the moment.

At three (3:00) minutes into the launch, the boosters have separated, and now we have fairing separation.

T-minus 14
Image Credit: NASA TV

T-minus 9
Image Credit: NASA TV

Launch of ATV-3
Image Credit: NASA TV

Ariane 5 Downrange
Image Credit: NASA TV

We now have Main Engine Cutoff. Stage Separation and second stage burn.

At twelve minutes into the flight, all systems are performing nominally.

At 18 minutes into the mission, ATV-3 is at altitude of 147.4 kilometers, and a velocity of 7.56 km/sec/

18 minutes into the mission
Image Credit: NASA TV

For die hard fans of the launch sequence and flight times, here is the ESA time-line for the Edoardo Amaldi Mission:

• –11 hr 30 mn Start of final countdown
• –4 hr 50 mn Start of filling of main cryogenic stage with liquid oxygen and hydrogen
• –1 hr 10 mn Check of connections between launcher and telemetry, tracking and command systems
• –7 min 00 sec ‘All systems go’ report at Launch Control Centre, allowing start of synchronised sequence
• –1 min 00 sec Switch to onboard power
• –04 sec Onboard systems take over
• –03 sec Unlocking of guidance systems to flight mode
• H0 Ignition of the Ariane 5 main stage engine
• +7.0 sec Ignition of solid boosters
• +7.3 sec Liftoff
• +17.1 sec Beginning of roll manoeuvre
• +2 min 22 sec Booster separation
• +3 min 26 sec Fairing jettison
• +8 min 54 sec End of main engine firing
• +9 min 00 sec Upper stage separation
• +9 min 07 sec Beginning of upper stage first burn
• +17 min 18 sec End of upper stage first burn
• +59 min 23 sec Beginning of upper stage second burn
• +59 min 51 sec End of upper stage second burn
• +1 hr 3 min 50 sec ATV separation
• +1 hr 35 min 30 sec ATV solar array deployment complete

At the moment, all systems are green and ATV-3 is set to automatically dock with the Station’s Russian Zvezda module during the night of 28–29 March.