Herschel and Planck launch campaign
On 14 May at 13:12:02 UT (15:12:02 CEST) the Herschel and Planck spacecraft lifted off on board an Ariane 5 ECA from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. After the flawless launch the two spacecraft separated and embarked on their individual journeys to L2.
Successful launch, 14 May at 13:12:02 UT |
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Both spacecraft now on their way to L2 |
The Herschel-Planck launch campaign is covered by a number of ESA web sites. Links to the latest articles from all of these web sites, along with links to related sites can be found on this page.
Replays of the Ariane launch can be watched on the ESA mogulus channel, and on the Arianespace webcast pages:
ESA channel on Mogulus |
Arianespace webcast |
Launch Campaign Web Journals
The events around the two spacecraft as they were prepared for launch, from arrival at Kourou up to the mating with the launcher, are covered in detail in the following journal entries.
All Herschel and Planck launch campaign journals | |
12/05/2009 | Final view of Herschel at Kourou |
11/05/2009 | Herschel mated with the Ariane 5 ECA launcher |
29/04/2009 | Planck mated with the Ariane 5 ECA launcher |
28/04/2009 | Helium for the Herschel cryostat |
20/04/2009 | Fuelling of the Planck spacecraft |
15/04/2009 | Herschel spacecraft is fully fuelled |
14/04/2009 | Planck activities completed in S1B cleanroom |
09/04/2009 | Herschel spacecraft ready for fuelling |
12/03/2009 | All Herschel instruments are 'good to go' |
11/03/2009 | Planck spacecraft check-outs near completion |
04/03/2009 | Planck spacecraft preparation activities in Kourou |
27/02/2009 | Herschel spacecraft inspection and final mirror cleaning |
23/02/2009 | Planck joins Herschel at the European Spaceport in Kourou |
20/02/2009 | Launch campaign for Planck is now underway |
14/02/2009 | Herschel arrives in French Guiana |
13/02/2009 | Herschel departs Europe - launch campaign underway |
Quick links to Herschel and Planck launch campaign journals | ||
Herschel | latest | all entries |
Planck | latest | all entries |
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See also the special launch website at ESA Space Science, which hosts news around the launch event.
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Watch the launch replays on the ESA channel on Mogulus. | ||
Watch the launch replays on the Arianespace webcast page. | ||
Learn more about the launch site by following the Arianespace virtual tour of Europe's spaceport at Kourou. | ||
The SCOOP (Satellite Campaign Organisation, Operations and Processing) pages provide more details about satellite campaigns in Kourou. |