n June 20, 2011 the European Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV-2), christened Johannes Kepler after the German astronomer and mathematician, separated from the International Space Station at 14:46 UTC. One minute later, after backing away from the station's Zvezda service module, the ATV fired thrusters to accelerate its departure.
The spacecraft is carrying more than 2,600 pounds of trash for the re-entry. Almost all the spacecraft will burn up in the atmosphere, but the hardiest components could survive to impact the Pacific Ocean.
More details about ATV-2 can be seen in our previous news: LAUNCH; DOCKING.
