ESA Portal - Herschel and Planck to lift off on 14 May

Media Centre

Press Releases ESA Television Launch Media Corner Exhibitions

Services

Calendar Publications Frequently asked questions ESA-sponsored Conferences Help Site Credits Portal terms of use Comments Subscribe


Europe's Spaceport, the Guiana Space Centre, Kourou

Herschel and Planck to lift off on 14 May

28 April 2009
Now that additional checks on the Ariane 5 ECA launcher have been completed, Arianespace and ESA have set the launch date of Herschel and Planck for Thursday 14 May.

In the meantime, the preparation of the two satellites for launch continues flawlessly at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Herschel and Planck have already been fuelled with hydrazine. Planck’s three-stage active cryogenic cooler, needed to keep the instruments at extremely cold temperatures, has been filled with helium-3 and helium-4. Herschel's cryogenic tanks are also being filled with superfluid helium.

Planck was also integrated with the Ariane 5 launcher, and is now waiting to be covered with the SYLDA element. This structure is needed to both encapsulate Planck during launch and to support the upper passenger – Herschel.

Updates on the launch campaign will follow on the ESA website.

For more information:

ESA - Media Relations Office
Tel: +33 (0)1 5369 7299
Fax: +33 (0)1 5369 7690
Email : media @ esa.int

Send this page to a friend

Herschel: ESA's giant infrared observatory

Planck: looking back at the dawn of time

Herschel instruments are 'good to go'Planck gears up for the ride Herschel and Planck to lift off on 6 May Herschel and Planck launch update Herschel spruced up after arrival in Kourou Herschel and Planck launch postponed Planck launch campaign update Planck follows Herschel to launch site Herschel shipped to Europe’s Spaceport

L2, the second Lagrangian Point Observations: Seeing in infrared wavelengths Observations: Seeing in microwave wavelengths Why infrared astronomy is a hot topic Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation

In depth

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