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ESA en route to the origins of the Universe
14 May 2009
| Ariane 5 lifts off with Herschel and Planck on board on 14 May 2009 at 15:12 CEST.
Credits: ESA | |  |  | |
| | | | A Journey to L2
| Herschel will be launched in tandem with Planck on board an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French
Guiana. The two spacecraft will separate shortly after launch and head independently towards their respective orbits around
the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system (L2). This point is situated some 1.5 million km from Earth, in the direction
opposite to the Sun.
Credits: ESA (animation by AOES Medialab) | | | | |
| | | | | 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) | | | | |
| | | | | About 0.5 hours after launch, Herschel separates from the launcher upper stage (a couple of minutes before Planck) and starts its cruise to L2 (the second Lagrangian point), situated at about 1.5 million kilometres from Earth.
Credits: ESA – D. Ducros, 2009 | | | | |
| | | | | 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 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.
Credits: ESA – D. Ducros | | | | |
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| | Herschel and Planck launch special Herschel: ESA's giant infrared observatory Planck: looking back at the dawn of time Related articles Watch the Herschel and Planck launch liveHerschel and Planck launcher at launch padHerschel and Planck launcher declared fit for launchFairing lowered over satellites in KourouHerschel and Planck launch timelineHerschel and Planck buckled up and readyRead more L2, the second Lagrangian PointIn depth Herschel launch campaign journalPlanck launch campaign journalHerschel in depthPlanck in depth
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