News archive

News archive

XMM in safe hands
During the first hours after XMM's acquisition by the Perth groundstation, the spacecraft control teams at ESOC nursed their babythrough its initial in-orbit sequences. Triggered by the onboardtimer, the two wings of the solar array opened faultlessly, thetelescope sunshield equally well. The star trackers were switched onand the spacecraft's reaction wheels were spun up.
Published: 10 December 1999
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.
Published: 10 December 1999
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.
Published: 10 December 1999
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.
Published: 9 December 1999
A word from ESA's Director General
At a post-launch conference held between Kourou, Paris and ESOCDarmstadt, the Director General Of ESA Antonio Rodota said:"The launch of XMM represents a success for Europe. We are veryproud of our satellite, and of the Ariane-5 launcher. The flight hasfurther demonstrated the potential of the new vehicle and we expectmore successes of this kind.So you understand we really are proud tohave been on this first Ariane-5 commercial launch".
Published: 9 December 1999
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.
Published: 7 December 1999
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.
Published: 23 November 1999
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.
Published: 22 November 1999
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.
Published: 11 November 1999
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).
Published: 9 November 1999
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 ?"
Published: 29 October 1999
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.
Published: 27 September 1999
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.
Published: 22 September 1999
'Black Beauty' sails to the tropics
ESA's X-ray space observatory has left Europe for its French Guiana launch site. XMM, nicknamed the 'Black Beauty' by the team and engineers who have built it, sailed from Rotterdam on Sunday 12 September aboard the Arianespace 'MN Toucan'.
Published: 13 September 1999
XMM schools competition - deadline extended to 15 October!
In view of the enthusiastic response to the XMM schools competition,with the kind cooperation of Arianespace, the deadline for submission ofdrawings has been extended by one week.To celebrate the December launch of XMM, its new X-ray spaceobservatory, the European Space Agency is challenging young Europeans toreach for the stars! Details can befound on the special competition website : http://sci.esa.int/xmm/competition. Francais- Deutsch- Espanol -Italiano- Svenska
Published: 13 September 1999
XMM ready to cross the Atlantic
After completing all its mechanical and electrical verifications, XMM is ready for shipping to its launch site in French Guiana. On 1 September ESA's giant X-ray observatory was packed in its special transport container and is now ready to leave the ESTEC integration facility in Noordwijk, Netherlands.
Published: 2 September 1999
X-ray study of the 'Winking Demon' reveals its flaring secrets
An X-ray observation of the 'Winking Demon', one of the sky's nearest and X-ray brightest stars, has revealed that its huge X-ray explosions take place in structures similar in relative size to those of our own Sun - contrary to what had been previously suggested. The study by J|rgen Schmitt at Hamburg University and Fabio Favata at the ESA-ESTEC Space Science Department has just been published by the magazine 'Nature' (dated 1 September 1999) and in 'Astronomy and Astrophysics' (currently in press).
Published: 1 September 1999
XMM sub-contractors see their baby
From Spain to Finland, from Great Britain to Austria, 14 countries were represented at ESTEC on the 19th August when the XMM sub-contractors came to see Europe's X-ray space observatory before it is shipped to its Kourou launchsite.
Published: 24 August 1999
XMM is progressing fast toward launch in December '99 on Ariane 5
The European Space Agencys XMM X-ray space telescope will be launched in early December by Arianespace - the European commercial launch services company. XMM is truly tailored to the new Ariane 5's heavy-lift launch capabilities.
Published: 19 August 1999
XMM spreads its wings for the last time on Earth
After a successful second System Validation Test between 20 and 30 July - during which all aspects of the XMM spacecraft including its science instruments were controlled in real-time from the XMM Mission Control Centre at ESOC in Darmstadt as if the satellite was already in orbit - XMM has deployed its solar arrays, another important milestone before the spacecraft is packed for shipping to the Kourou launchsite.
Published: 18 August 1999
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