ESA - Planck - Herschel and Planck talk to Earth

About Planck

Planck at a glance Science objectives Planck highlights History of microwave astronomy

The Microwave Universe

Why the microwave Key questions

The spacecraft

Vital stats Telescope Instruments Sophisticated spacecraft

The mission

Journey Launch and early operations Operating Planck

Meet the team

Planck Project Scientist Herschel and Planck Programme Manager

Multimedia

Planck images Planck videos Science@ESA vodcast

Follow me!

Planck on Twitter

Article Images

Herschel and Planck talk to Earth

14 May 2009

Back to article

Download:

HI-RES MP4 (Size: 2 720 kb)

HI-RES MOV (Size: 58 700 kb)

Herschel and Planck will be launched on an Ariane 5 from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, in spring 2009. The satellites will separate shortly after launch and proceed to their respective orbits around the second Lagrange point of the Sun- Earth system, or L2. The boosters of the Ariane 5 will fire for just under 2.5 minutes and its main and upper stage engines for about 25 minutes, setting Herschel and then Planck on the path to L2. This animation shows the fairing of the Ariane 5 being ejected, with Herschel visible on top of Planck.

Credits: ESA (animation by AOES Medialab)

Back to article

Download:

HI-RES MP4 (Size: 3 830 kb)

HI-RES MOV (Size: 69 800 kb)

Herschel will separate from the upper stage of the Ariane 5 about 30 minutes after launch. Planck will follow a couple of minutes later. The satellites will then head towards their respective orbits around the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system (L2), some 1.5 million km from Earth in the direction opposite to the Sun. It will take about 60 days for both satellites to enter their operational orbits.

Credits: ESA (animation by AOES Medialab)

Back to article

Download:

HI-RES MP4 (Size: 4 570 kb)

HI-RES MOV (Size: 50 000 kb)

Planck will separate from the launcher about 30 minutes after launch, a couple of minutes after Herschel. The two spacecraft will independently head towards their respective orbits the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system (L2), some 1.5 million km from Earth in the direction opposite to the Sun. It will take about 60 days for satellites to enter their operational orbits.

Credits: ESA (animation by AOES Medialab)

Herschel and Planck launch special

Herschel: ESA's giant infrared observatory

Planck: looking back at the dawn of time

Ariane 5 carrying Herschel and Planck lifts off ESOC confirms: 'GO' for launch Herschel and Planck launcher declared fit for launch Fairing lowered over satellites in Kourou Herschel and Planck launch timeline

L2, the second Lagrangian Point

In depth

Herschel launch campaign journal Planck launch campaign journal Herschel in depth Planck in depth