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| XMM observed from Earth |
| Following a suggestion from members of the Flight Dynamics department at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany,
an amateur astronomer in Australia has managed to take a picture of XMM in orbit. |
| Date: 19 Jan 2000 |
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| XMM instrument commissioning |
| All of XMM's instruments have been switched ON and their computer software loaded on board. The first task has been to check the health of the instruments repeating the engineering test procedure used on the ground before launch. This has confirmed that all instruments remain in the same condition as before launch. This was also the 'acid test' to verify that the instrument data sent by the spacecraft were reaching Villafranca and were being processed correctly. On 4 January, to everyone's relief, the first data arrived and were processed correctly by the new software installed at the XMM Science Observations Centre. Watching this important event, XMM project manager Robert Laini commented: "I saw big smiles all around when EPIC and later test images appeared on the screen."
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| Date: 07 Jan 2000 |
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| PR 54-1999: XMM flying beautifully |
| The European Space Agency's new X-ray space telescope has reached its operational orbit less than a week after being launched from Kourou on 10 December. The XMM spacecraft, which is being controlled by teams at the European Space Operations Centre, ESOC Darmstadt Germany, is functioning admirably. |
| Date: 20 Dec 1999 |
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| XMM reaches its final orbit |
| On 16 December at 11:30 UT, the final orbit trim for XMM was performed on schedule, bringing the spacecraft into its operational orbit, from where it will be ready to start the instrument commissioning phase, due to commence in the new year. XMM Ground Segment Manager Howard Nye describes the atmosphere during this final manoeuvre... |
| Date: 18 Dec 1999 |
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| Jets in space : XMM unique pictures |
| During the XMM early orbit phase manoeuvres, which have raised the orbit perigee to 7000 km, small micro-cameras on the outside of the spacecraft have been able to take exceptional views of XMM and of its thrusters in action. |
| Date: 17 Dec 1999 |
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| ESOC and XMM teams celebrate Santa Lucia |
| Some very special "rocket fuel" was awaiting the B-team XMM flight controllers when they came off shift, midday on December 13. Swedish staff had organised a gathering to celebrate Santa Lucia, Sweden's traditional remembrance of the Sicilian saint.
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| Date: 13 Dec 1999 |
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| XMM into operational orbit |
| Over the weekend, the extreme tension of the launch itself disappeared. The XMM satellite is now in the safe hands of the ESOC control teams. In their Main Control Room, XMM has yet to be chalked up on the record board. It is the 42nd mission to be handled by ESOC since 1968. |
| Date: 13 Dec 1999 |
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| XMM in safe hands |
| During the first hours after XMM's acquisition by the Perth ground
station, the spacecraft control teams at ESOC nursed their baby
through its initial in-orbit sequences. Triggered by the onboard
timer, the two wings of the solar array opened faultlessly, the
telescope sunshield equally well. The star trackers were switched on
and the spacecraft's reaction wheels were spun up.
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| Date: 11 Dec 1999 |
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| XMM takes pictures of itself! |
| The XMM spacecraft, launched on 10 December from Kourou, has sent back pictures of itself in space.
The photographs were taken by two micro-cameras placed on the exterior of the spacecraft's focal plane assembly. Provided by Optronic Instruments and Products (OIP) - Delft Sensor Systems, and IMEC, Belgium, the two cameras (10 x 6 x 6cm) each weigh but 430 grams. |
| Date: 11 Dec 1999 |
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| PR 53-1999: Europe's latest space telescope is off to a good start |
| The world's most powerful observatory for X-ray astronomy, the European Space Agency's XMM satellite, set off into space from Kourou, French Guiana, at 14:32 UTC on 10 December. The mighty Ariane 5 launcher, making its very first commercial launch, hurled the 3.9-tonne spacecraft into a far-ranging orbit. Within one hour of lift-off the European Space Operations Centre at Darmstadt, Germany, confirmed XMM was under control with electrical power available from the solar arrays.
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| Date: 10 Dec 1999 |
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| A perfect lift off of Ariane-5 with XMM |
| The Ariane-5 lifted off perfectly on time at 14:32 UT. Separation of the XMM satellite took place 29:18 minutes into the flight.
"I'm very proud today - we have given the world a remarkable image just now", said Roger Bonnet at the post-launch press conference. |
| Date: 10 Dec 1999 |
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| A word from ESA's Director General |
| At a post-launch conference held between Kourou, Paris and ESOC
Darmstadt, the Director General Of ESA Antonio Rodota said:
"The launch of XMM represents a success for Europe. We are very
proud of our satellite, and of the Ariane-5 launcher. The flight has
further demonstrated the potential of the new vehicle and we expect
more successes of this kind.So you understand we really are proud to
have been on this first Ariane-5 commercial launch".
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| Date: 10 Dec 1999 |
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| Setting the stage for the launch of XMM |
| Whilst the engineers and technicians are making final preparations for the XMM launch on 10 December, ESA is setting the stage for the public and media launch coverage, both in French Guiana and in Europe. |
| Date: 08 Dec 1999 |
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| INFO 19-1999: Lifting the veil on the X-ray universe |
| X-ray astronomy is a relatively young branch of astrophysics which today is one of the most competitive and popular. In the few decades since the discovery of X-ray radiation from cosmic X-ray sources, this field has grown at an astonishing rate leading to the identification of numerous exciting new phenomena. |
| Date: 24 Nov 1999 |
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| Working towards the December launch |
| The XMM launch campaign has been proceeding smoothly, since the spacecraft arrived in French Guiana on 23 September. A continuous account of the campaign, direct from the XMM team in Kourou, can be found on this website.
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| Date: 23 Nov 1999 |
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| Green light for XMM launch on 10 December |
| All lights are green to launch ESA's X-ray Space Observatory
on 10 December with a launch window starting at 14:32 GMT.
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| Date: 12 Nov 1999 |
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| XMM System Verification Test 3 |
| Thursday 14th October, day four of SVT-3. The object of the third and final XMM Systems Verification Test before launch is to command the spacecraft at a distance, as if it were in orbit, and particularly to control the reception of information from its science payload. It is the first time that the six cameras and radiation monitor installed on the spacecraft provide their data to the XMM Science Operations Centre (SOC). |
| Date: 10 Nov 1999 |
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| PR 43-1999: Reaching out to youth. And the winners are..... |
| In recent weeks ESA has been actively promoting a series of activities addressing the younger generation, in a concerted effort to stimulate their interest in space and involve as many young Europeans as possible in the Agency's activities.
To celebrate the launch of ESA's XMM X-ray telescope in December, for instance, two competitions for European schools were announced in September: "Draw me a Telescope" and "What's new, Mr Galileo ?"
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| Date: 29 Oct 1999 |
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| XMM arrives in French Guiana |
| As scheduled, the Arianespace MN Toucan berthed at Kourou's Pariacabo harbour on the afternoon of 23 September after a ten-day crossing from Europe. A welcoming party was present as the ship lowered its rear access ramp, revealing its full load: the XMM giant container and eight others with various Ariane-4 and Ariane-5 rocket stages. |
| Date: 27 Sep 1999 |
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| Sailing to the tropics with XMM |
| During the voyage by sea to French Guiana the XMM spacecraft in its transport container was watched over by two members of the project team, Jan van
Dooren, ESA's XMM Quality Assurance Manager and his colleague from Dornier Amin Zumstein. |
| Date: 22 Sep 1999 |
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