ESA's ATV Edoardo Amaldi lifted off from Europe's Spaceport, CSG, in Kourou, French Guiana, on 23 March 2012. It was carried into orbit by an Ariane 5 launcher, operated by Arianespace. Currently it is on its journey to the International Space Station.

The Automated Transfer Vehicle, the most complex spacecraft ever produced in Europe, will deliver essential supplies to the orbital outpost. It will also reboost the Space Station's orbit while it is docked for about five months.

ATV Edoardo Amaldi is the third in a series of five supply ships developed in Europe to fulfil its obligation towards the exploitation costs of the Station. This vessel is the first to have been processed and launched within the target rate of one per year.

More background information can be found on: http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ATV/index.html