Communiqué issued by the Presidency of the Republic
Paris, March 8, 2008
President Sarkozy warmly congratulates the teams from the French Space Agency, Arianespace, European Space Agency and European space industry, whom he had the opportunity of meeting during his visit to Kourou last month, on the successful launch of the Automated Transfer Vehicle, or ATV.
This first ATV, the “Jules Verne”, will be used to re-supply the International Space Station with food, oxygen, water, spare parts and propellant. The ATV is essential for the smooth operation of the International Space Station and constitutes a major contribution by Europe to the great space project.
This launch is the 23rd successive Ariane 5 launch and the first of the Ariane 5ES with an in-flight reignition capability. So Ariane has just passed a new crucially important technological milestone. It's also the first time that the Guiana Space Centre is serving the Station. The European spaceport is thus bolstering its status among the great international space platforms, alongside Baikonour and Cape Canaveral./.
Embassy of France in the United States - March 10, 2008
