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
|
|
SpaceX performs two Falcon 9 launches less than an hour apart
Posted: Sun, Aug 16 10:57 AM ET (1457 GMT) Virgin Galactic delays resumption of commercial flights to 2027
Posted: Sun, Aug 16 10:54 AM ET (1454 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, August 17
Ukrainian Flamingo Missiles Reportedly Hit Russia’s Progress Space-Rocket Centre in Samara
EU Today — 4:53 am ET (0853 GMT) Flamingo may have hit Russia's space program at its weakest link
RBC — 4:52 am ET (0852 GMT) MDA Space Satellites for Globalstar Successfully Launched
MDA — 4:51 am ET (0851 GMT) Rocket Lab Satellite Platforms Built for MDA Space Successfully Reach Orbit, Supporting Globalstar Direct-to-Device Communications Services
Rocket Lab — 4:50 am ET (0850 GMT) WA names Space Angel as recipient of spaceport establishment grant
Space and Defense — 4:44 am ET (0844 GMT) |
