ESA   HOME   SCIENCE OUTREACH   RESEARCH  EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT   DIRECTOR'S DESK   PRODEX 
 SEARCH 
 SOLAR SYSTEM  ASTROPHYSICS  FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS  ADVANCED STUDIES & PAYLOADS   
Mission Home
Summary
Fact Sheet
Objectives
Mission Team
Industrial Team
News
Spacecraft
3D Model
Instruments
Test Campaign
Mission Operations
Launch Information
Orbit/Navigation
Launch Vehicle
Launch Campaign
Science Operations
Science Ground Segment
Astronomer's Website
Outreach Resources
Services
Publications
Conferences
Calendar
Subscribe
Glossary
Images and Videos
Make this your homepage
Fact Sheet:
Successful launch on 14 May 2009 at 13:12 UTC
This counter requires Javascript to be enabled

LAUNCH DATE: 14-May-2009 13:12 UT  
MISSION END:2012 (extended mission)
LAUNCH VEHICLE:Ariane 5 ECA
LAUNCH MASS:3400 kg
MISSION PHASE: Commissioning
ORBIT:
Lissajous orbit about the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system (L2)
ACHIEVEMENTS:
  • Study the formation of galaxies in the early universe and their subsequent evolution
  • Investigate the creation of stars and their interaction with the interstellar medium
  • Observe the chemical composition of the atmospheres and surfaces of comets, planets and satellites
  • Examine the molecular chemistry of the universe
THE MISSION:
The European Space Agency's Herschel Space Observatory (formerly called Far Infrared and Sub-millimetre Telescope or FIRST) has the largest single mirror ever built for a space telescope. At 3.5-metres in diameter the mirror will collect long-wavelength radiation from some of the coldest and most distant objects in the Universe. In addition, Herschel will be the only space observatory to cover a spectral range from the far infrared to sub-millimetre.
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Herschel images reveal new detail in the Milky Way
Herschel's first light promises superb science
Herschel's sneak preview: PACS images of M51
UPCOMING EVENTS
17-Dec-2009
Workshop: Herschel Science Demonstration Phase Initial Results
22-Feb-2010
Infrared Emission, ISM and Star Formation
 
SPECIAL FEATURES
Herschel at ESTEC (BBC video)
Herschel and the International Year of Astronomy
Herschel mission report from 37th COSPAR meeting
Viewing the Universe in a different light - euronews
SPECIAL SITES
Herschel operations blog
Herschel for the general public and the media
Herschel Science Centre
LAUNCH CAMPAIGN JOURNAL
12 May 2009
11 May 2009
28 April 2009
SPACECRAFT TESTING
3 February 2009
21 January 2009
MULTIMEDIA
 
 LEGAL DISCLAIMER   SITEMAP  GLOSSARY  SUBSCRIBE   CONTACT FAQ 
  Copyright 2000 - 2009 © European Space Agency. All rights reserved.