ESA Science & Technology - Close-up of Herschel mass measurement device

The Herschel spacecraft is weighed while still in the S1 building at CGS, Kourou. The measurement will provide a baseline from which the total spacecraft mass at launch will be calculated after the hydrazine fuelling has been completed.

In this close-up of the mass measurement device the reading can be seen: the device measures 5528 kg the combined weight of the spacecraft plus the vertical lifting device and a number of non-flight items that are still installed. At launch the mass of the spacecraft will be about 3400 kg.