An Ariane 5 ES rocket is scheduled to launch Europe's fifth and final Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV-5) to the International Space Station July 29, after commercial launch services provider Arianespace performed additional checks on a subsystem inside the launcher's Vehicle Equipment Bay (VEB). Previously slated to launch July 24, liftoff is now scheduled for 8:44:03 p.m. local time from Europe's Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. Named after the Belgian cosmolo-gist and father of the "Big Bang" theory, Georges Lemaitre, the ATV cargo tug will haul almost 6,600 kg (4,100 lb.) of food, fuel and supplies to the orbiting outpost, including a record amount of dry cargo-around 2,700 kg. Arianespace says the launch delay was caused by a balky subsystem involving a drain valve located in the VEB that had to be removed and sent back to Europe.
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