The second Automated Transfer Vehicle, christened Kepler, was launched on the 200th Ariane flight yesterday from the Ariane space port in French Guiana. Weighing in at around 20 tonnes, this was also the biggest payload yet launched by Ariane. The vehicle is destined to rendezvous and dock with the International Space Station (ISS) within the next few days. It will be a busy time, with the shuttle due to launch to ISS next Friday (25 February). However, the main reason for this entry is the accompanying cool photo, taken by the crew aboard ISS, of the Ariane launch seen from ISS. A window of visibility of the ISS is opening up in the UK on 24 February, so I will be out under the night sky then in the hope of seeing ATV or shuttle flying in formation with the station! If you want predictions of when ISS can be seen over your location, I can recommend a really ace website www.heavens-above.com.
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