The Jules Verne cargo spacecraft was successfully launched and brought food and oxygen supplies to the International Space Station

The European cargo spaceship Jules Verne was successfully launched on the Ariane 5 heavy rocket launcher specially adapted for the mission

This morning, the launch of the new European cargo spaceship Jules Verne towards the International Space Station was successfully completed. The spacecraft was launched from the European Space Center Kurau (Kourou) in French Guinea, by the Astrium Corporation controlled by the European EADS.

Jean Verne was mounted on top of an Ariane 5es missile that was specially adapted for the mission because of the heavy weight - 20 tons (!) - more than double the heaviest weight the missile has ever carried.

The spacecraft is fully automatic, after separating from the rocket and arriving in space, it will deploy its solar panels, and will automatically navigate itself towards the International Space Station. Near the station, it will dock automatically without any external help using optical navigation technologies. Its payload will provide the station's permanent crew with 7.5 tons of equipment, air, food and water.

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