A European supply rocket successfully lifted off from French Guiana early this morning (Sunday) for its mission carrying much needed oxygen, food, water and equipment to the international space station (ISS). The launch was originally scheduled for one day earlier (Saturday) but had to have its countdown stopped to allow for more checks on the rocket and its launch pad. Once it was determined that everything checked out, the countdown resumed on Sunday with a text-book perfect take-off.
The rocket lifted off at the Guiana Space Center on Sunday in Kourou, French Guiana with over 21 tons of cargo for the space station, according Arianespace, the South American commercial arm of the 13-country European Space Agency (ESA).
This is the first of nine regularly scheduled missions that the ESA has planned for servicing the station over the next several years. If the need arises, more such missions could be added.
With the U.S. Shuttle set to retire in 2010 more of these kinds of supply duties for the ISS will be picked up by the ESA and other countries including Japan and Russia. NASA is concentrating on their replacement of the 20+ year Shuttle system with the new Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle and the Ares I and Ares V, which is on target for its premiere launch by 2013, two years earlier than expected.
It is good news that duties for the ISS will be shared with US and other countries. It is important to keep these other countries involved in the upkeep and maintenance of the ISS. It is sad that the Space shuttle will be retired, but a new era in space exploration rests in the Ares I and Ares V