The last space shuttle Discovery has been launched, heading for the International Space Station

8 days after launch, ESA’s latest Automated Transfer Vehicle, Johannes Kepler, completed a flawless rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station at 16:08 UT to deliver essential supplies.

The latest presentations to NASAs Future in Space Operations (FISO) group were given by Mark Holderman and Edward Henderson of NASA. Their slides (available here) are really quite fascinating.

ESA’s latest Automated Transfer Vehicle is ready for launch to the International Space Station on Tuesday, 15/2, 22:08 UT from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The unmanned spaceship will deliver essential supplies and reboost the Station during its mission lasting 3½ months.