The European Space Agency launched its third Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV-3) today at 1:34 p.m. local time (12:34 a.m. EDT/4:34 GMT) from the Kourou launch site in French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 rocket.

ESA’s third Automated Transfer Vehicle, scheduled for launch on an Ariane 5 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 23 March, is planned to dock with the International Space Station five days later.

Monday's successful maiden flight of ESA’s new Vega rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, opens a new set of launch services – including two of the Sentinel satellites for GMES.

Join us for the first qualification flight of the Vega launch vehicle on Monday 13 February, with a launch window open from 11:00 to 12:30 CET (10:00 to 11:30 GMT).

Final preparations are in full swing for the rocket’s inaugural flight from Europe’s Spaceport.