| Mission extensions approved for science missions |
| ESA's Science Programme Committee has approved the extension of mission operations for XMM-Newton, INTEGRAL, Venus Express, Mars Express and Cluster, as well as the ESA support to the operations of HST and SOHO, until 31 December 2012. An additional year of operations has been approved for Planck. |
| Date: 07 Oct 2009 |
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| New Herschel images reveal previously unseen detail in the Milky Way |
| Images from the Herschel observatory, obtained during the performance verification phase, reveal previously unseen detail in a region of the Milky Way near the Galactic Plane. These images demonstrate that the 'SPIRE/PACS parallel mode', an important observing mode for the observatory, is delivering the expected performance. |
| Date: 02 Oct 2009 |
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| Herschel's 'first light' promises superb science |
| The first images and spectra obtained with the three Herschel instruments (HIFI, PACS and SPIRE) demonstrate their excellent condition and provide a foretaste of the exciting science that is to come. |
| Date: 10 Jul 2009 |
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| Herschel's sneak preview: PACS images of M51 |
| On 14 June 2009, precisely one month after launch, Herschel opened its eyes as the cryocover, the cryostat lid, was commanded to open. The images obtained by the PACS instrument during the remainder of the operational day (14-15 June) are shown below. |
| Date: 19 Jun 2009 |
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| Herschel and Planck commissioning has begun |
| After a perfect injection by the Ariane 5 launcher on 14 May, the critical Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) for Herschel and Planck has started to wind down, while commissioning of the scientific instruments and subsystems on both spacecraft has begun. |
| Date: 20 May 2009 |
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| ESA en route to the origins of the Universe |
| ESA PR 10-2009: Two of the most ambitious missions ever attempted to unveil the secrets of the darkest, coldest and oldest parts of the Universe got off to a successful start this afternoon with the dual launch of ESA's far infrared space telescope Herschel and cosmic background mapper Planck on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.
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| Date: 14 May 2009 |
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| Ariane 5 carrying Herschel and Planck lifts off |
| At 15:12:02 CEST, at the beginning of a 55-minute launch window, the Herschel and Planck satellite pair lifted off on board an Ariane 5 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.
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| Date: 14 May 2009 |
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| Herschel and Planck are on the launch pad |
14 May 2009: The launch can be followed live on the ESA mogulus channel, and on the Arianespace webcast pages:
See timeline of key events for the Herschel and Planck launch at the end of this page.
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| Date: 13 May 2009 |
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| Successful Launch Readiness Review ahead of the launch of Herschel and Planck |
| The launcher for Herschel and Planck has been declared ready for launch following the successful conclusion of the Launch Readiness Review, RAL (Revue d'Aptitude au Lancement), held on 9 May and the close-out review held on 12 May. The launch from the European Spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana, is scheduled for 14 May 2009. |
| Date: 13 May 2009 |
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| Herschel and Planck to lift off on 14 May |
| Now that additional checks on the Ariane 5 ECA launcher have been completed, Arianespace and ESA have set the launch date of Herschel and Planck for Thursday 14 May. |
| Date: 28 Apr 2009 |
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| Herschel and Planck launch postponed |
| Due to an anomaly discovered during tests on a subassembly identical to the one on the Ariane 5 launcher, Arianespace has decided to carry out additional checks which will take a few days. |
| Date: 20 Apr 2009 |
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| Herschel and Planck to lift off on 6 May |
| With the additional checks related to the flight worthiness of the Herschel telescope now completed, ESA and Arianespace have set the launch date of Herschel and Planck for 6 May 2009. |
| Date: 08 Apr 2009 |
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| Herschel and Planck launch update |
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| Date: 02 Apr 2009 |
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| Launch campaign teams take time out to record a special moment |
| As the launch date for Herschel and Planck approaches the launch campaign teams, who are busy preparing both spacecraft for this momentous event, have taken time out for a group photograph. |
| Date: 17 Mar 2009 |
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| Herschel and Planck launch postponed |
| In order to carry out additional checks on the ground segment of the Herschel and Planck programmes, Arianespace and ESA have jointly agreed to postpone the launch initially planned for 16 April 2009. A new launch date will be announced at the end of March.
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| Date: 13 Mar 2009 |
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| Herschel and Planck get green light for launch campaign |
| ESA's Herschel and Planck missions have successfully completed their test campaigns in Europe and will be soon transported to Europe's spaceport at the Centre Spatial Guyanais in Kourou, French Guyana. |
| Date: 09 Feb 2009 |
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| International Year of Astronomy 2009 officially launched |
| A thrilling launch to the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) is taking place at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Headquarters in Paris on 15 and 16 January 2009. Events include showcases of two major ESA contributions to IYA2009: the Planck Dome and the Groningen Discovery Truck featuring Herschel. |
| Date: 16 Jan 2009 |
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| Herschel and Planck ground segments pass important milestone |
| The Herschel and Planck ground segments have successfully passed another milestone on the path to launch. The conclusion of the Board of the Herschel/Planck Ground Segment Readiness Review is that the review objectives have been met and that the ground segments are on target for a launch slot opening on 10 April 2009. |
| Date: 27 Nov 2008 |
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| Herschel's Cryostat and Service Module Mated |
| During the course of the past few months the integration of the Herschel spacecraft has taken place at the Astrium facility in Friedrichshafen, Germany. |
| Date: 19 Sep 2007 |
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| Herschel Mirror on the Move |
| The Herschel telescope primary mirror blank has now been machined to its final shape and thickness. After the machining was completed, the mirror blank was thoroughly tested and inspected to check the integrity of its construction. At the end of June, the mirror blank was transported by road and air from Toulouse, France to Turku, Finland, where it will be polished to create the optical surface. |
| Date: 06 Jul 2004 |
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