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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)
Mass3.4 tonnes at launch
Telescope mass315 kg
Spacecraft3-axis stabilised
Telescope size3.5 m diameter primary mirror
Science data rate130 kbps
Lifetime3.5 years
Operational orbitLissajous orbit at an average distance of 800 000 km from L2
Attitude thrusters12 thrusters, 20 N each
Solar arraysFlat, fixed panels of triple-junction
Ga As cells,
Solar array area: about 12 m2
Batteries39 Ah Lithium ion batteries
Communication2 low gain antennae
1 medium gain antenna
 
 
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 Herschel: ESA's giant infrared observatoryHerschel in space, close up on its mirror
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In depth
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