ATV's Ariane 5 flight, lasting about 160 minutes, consists of five consecutive phases:

• First propulsion phase, over the North Atlantic, from Kourou to the Azores
• First ballistic phase, over Europe, Central and Eastern Asia, and then Indonesia
• Second propulsion phase, over Australia and New Zealand to achieve a circular orbit before the ATV separates
• Second ballistic phase, accounting for one complete orbit around the Earth
• Third propulsion phase, to the North of Australia, for de-orbiting the launch vehicle upper stage