Booster jettison of the V200

Photo captured on 16 February 2011 from the real-time video from the Ariane 5 launcher during the flight V200 during the time of jettisoning the boosters.

The Ariane 5 ES lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 21:50:55 GMT (18:50:55 local time) on Wednesday 16 February 2011, with ESA’s second Automated Transfer Vehicle, Johannes Kepler. The unmanned supply ship is planned to deliver critical supplies and reboost the International Space Station during its almost four-month mission.

This launch also marks the 200th flight of an Ariane vehicle since the debut of 24 December 1979.