Gaia spacecraft reaches L2
Posted: Thu, Jan 16, 2014, 7:04 AM ET (1204 GMT)
A European astronomy spacecraft launched last month entered orbit this week around the Earth-Sun L2 Lagrange point. ESA reported that the Gaia spacecraft fired its thrusters Tuesday at 10:30 am EST (1530 GMT) to place it into an orbit around the L2 point, 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. Gaia, launched last month on a Soyuz rocket, is designed to map the positions of one billion stars during its five-year mission, creating the most accurate star catalog to date.
A European astronomy spacecraft launched last month entered orbit this week around the Earth-Sun L2 Lagrange point. ESA reported that the Gaia spacecraft fired its thrusters Tuesday at 10:30 am EST (1530 GMT) to place it into an orbit around the L2 point, 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. Gaia, launched last month on a Soyuz rocket, is designed to map the positions of one billion stars during its five-year mission, creating the most accurate star catalog to date.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, January 14
10 asteroids named to honour ESA’s role in Planetary Defence
ESA — 6:28 am ET (1128 GMT) A new training explored AI in Earth observation
ESA — 6:28 am ET (1128 GMT) Starlink can now deploy more satellites – here’s what analysts think
FierceWireless — 6:25 am ET (1125 GMT) Musk Offers Free Starlink in Iran as Internet Blackout Persists
Bloomberg News — 6:24 am ET (1124 GMT) EU frets over possible takeover of satellite frequencies by Musk’s Starlink
Financial Times — 6:23 am ET (1123 GMT) |
