Ariane launches ESA astronomy missions
Posted: Thu, May 14, 2009, 2:07 PM ET (1807 GMT)
An Ariane 5 rocket successfully launched a pair of European astronomy spacecraft Thursday morning. The Ariane 5 ECA lifted off from Kourou, French Guiana at 9:12 am EDT (1312 GMT) and released the Herschel and Planck spacecraft into an escape trajectory about a half-hour later. The two spacecraft are destined for the Earth-Sun L-2 point, 1.5 million kilometers from the Earth in the direction opposite the Sun. Herschel is an infrared observatory with a 3.5-meter mirror, the largest ever launched, and is designed to perform a variety of observations in wavelengths from the far infrared to submillimeter. Planck is designed to observe the cosmic microwave background at the highest accuracies to date to learn more about the Big Bang. Both Herschel and Planck are ESA missions, with some participation by NASA.
An Ariane 5 rocket successfully launched a pair of European astronomy spacecraft Thursday morning. The Ariane 5 ECA lifted off from Kourou, French Guiana at 9:12 am EDT (1312 GMT) and released the Herschel and Planck spacecraft into an escape trajectory about a half-hour later. The two spacecraft are destined for the Earth-Sun L-2 point, 1.5 million kilometers from the Earth in the direction opposite the Sun. Herschel is an infrared observatory with a 3.5-meter mirror, the largest ever launched, and is designed to perform a variety of observations in wavelengths from the far infrared to submillimeter. Planck is designed to observe the cosmic microwave background at the highest accuracies to date to learn more about the Big Bang. Both Herschel and Planck are ESA missions, with some participation by NASA.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, April 21
Moving would have ‘enormous cost’; Mayor Mobolade calls for Space Command to stay put
KRDO-TV Colorado Springs — 6:26 am ET (1026 GMT) SpaceX launches third fleet of spy satellites in 8 days
UPI — 6:24 am ET (1024 GMT) Sorry Katy Perry, you are no firework in space exploration
The Scotsman — 6:22 am ET (1022 GMT) He Was a Prophet of Space Travel. His Ashes Were Found in a Basement.
New York Times — 6:18 am ET (1018 GMT) Isro's SpaDeX satellites complete second docking successfully, more tests to follow
India Today — 6:16 am ET (1016 GMT) |
