Herschel leaves the Large Space Simulator
Date: 07 January 2009
Satellite: Herschel
Depicts: Flight model spacecraft
Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Copyright: ESA
In December 2008, the Herschel flight model spacecraft successfully completed the last series of environmental tests inside the Large Space Simulator (LSS). On 8 January 2009 Herschel was removed from the LSS.
This image shows Herschel on the platform at the top of the LSS after it was lifted through the top opening of the LSS chamber (just visible in the lower right corner). The spacecraft next was lowered over the edge of the platform to the ground floor of the cleanroom.
The telescope is covered by a protective foil to protect the contamination sensitive surface of the telescope's primary mirror.
Last Update: 1 September 2019
