This delay was announced today after a routine inspection concluded that additional measures were required to maximize ATV Edoardo Amaldi’s launch readiness. A new liftoff date will be provided as soon as possible.

Developed for the European Space Agency, the ATV Edoardo Amaldi will carry dry cargo, water, gas and propellant for delivery to the crewed orbital facility.

This latest flight in support of International Space Station operations utilizes an Ariane 5 ES version of the heavy-lift workhorse, further underscoring the launcher’s high flexibility for meeting a full range of mission requirements.

It follows Arianespace launches with Europe’s first two Automated Transfer Vehicles, performed in February 2011 and March 2008 from the Spaceport in French Guiana.