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Fact Sheet:
Successful launch on 14 May 2009 at 13:12 UTC
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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
Initial results from Herschel's science demonstration phase
Herschel's splendid spectra
Herschel images reveal new detail in the Milky Way
LAUNCH CAMPAIGN JOURNAL
12 May 2009
11 May 2009
28 April 2009
SPACECRAFT TESTING
3 February 2009
21 January 2009
SPECIAL SITES
OSHI - Online Showcase of Herschel images
Herschel operations blog
Herschel for the general public and the media
Herschel Science Centre
SPECIAL FEATURES
Science@ESA: Episode 3: Exploring the infrared Universe
Herschel and the International Year of Astronomy
Herschel mission report from 37th COSPAR meeting
Viewing the Universe in a different light - euronews
UPCOMING EVENTS
22-Feb-2010
Infrared Emission, ISM and Star Formation
04-May-2010
ESLAB 2010 - Herschel First Results Symposium
 
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