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    ESA > Our Activities > Space Science > Herschel

    Vital stats

    The Herschel satellite is a tall cylinder, about 7.5 m high and 4.0 m wide, with a launch mass of around 3.4 tonnes.

    The Herschel spacecraft
    Dimensions ~ 7.5 x 4.0 m (height x width)
    Mass 3.4 tonnes at launch
    Telescope mass 315 kg
    Spacecraft 3-axis stabilised
    Telescope size 3.5 m diameter primary mirror
    Science data rate 130 kbps
    Lifetime 3.5 years
    Operational orbit Lissajous orbit at an average distance of 800 000 km from L2
    Attitude thrusters 12 thrusters, 20 N each
    Solar arrays Flat, fixed panels of triple-junction
    Ga As cells,
    Solar array area: about 12 m2
    Batteries 39 Ah Lithium ion batteries
    Communication 2 low gain antennae
    1 medium gain antenna

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    • Herschel: ESA's giant infrared observatory
    • Read more
      • Caroline and William Herschel: Revealing the invisible
        • Observations: Seeing in infrared wavelengths
          • The electromagnetic spectrum
            • L2, the second Lagrangian Point
              • What are Lagrange points?
                • Why infrared astronomy is a hot topic
                  • The infrared explorers
                  • In depth
                  • Herschel in depth
                  • Herschel spacecraft in depth

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