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
|
|
Blue Origin announces new upper stage and engine for New Glenn
Posted: Sat, Nov 7 12:07 PM ET (1707 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, November 9
NASA Updates Moon Base Plan Spanning Rover to Rides
Aviation Week — 4:49 am ET (0949 GMT) Korea to spur private launchers and LEO network in SpaceX-style push
Chosun Ilbo — 4:44 am ET (0944 GMT) As SpaceX gets cheaper, are India’s rockets taking different flight paths?
livemint — 4:44 am ET (0944 GMT) SpaceX Falcon 9 launch planned for Monday evening out of Vandenberg SFB
KSBY-TV San Luis Obispo, CA — 4:43 am ET (0943 GMT) Will China’s slow and steady moon landing plan be a safer bet than the US’?
South China Morning Post — 4:43 am ET (0943 GMT) |
