Herschel and Planck launcher at launch pad   Ariane 5 enclosing Herschel and Planck     13 May 2009   At around 13:40 CEST today, 8:40 at the launch site in Kourou, the Ariane 5 carrying Herschel and Planck rolled out onto the launch pad from its earlier location in the final assembly building under blue skies complete with puffy clouds.   Additional photos in gallery linked at top right.         Ariane 5 enclosing Herschel and Planck   The entire process of moving the launcher from the final assembly building to the launch pad 2.6 km away took about 1.5 hrs. Roll-out was announced at 8:40 local time after which the launcher was pulled out of the final assembly building. The Ariane 5 arrived at the launch pad at about 10:15 local time.       Ariane 5 enclosing Herschel and Planck     “The view is just spectacular,” reported Göran Pilbratt ESA’s Herschel Project Scientist, on location at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.       Ariane 5 ready for roll-out         Ariane 5 enclosing Herschel and Planck         Thomas Passvogel, ESA Herschel and Planck Programme Manager        •  Photos: Herschel and Planck at ESA's Spaceport (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/herschelplanck/SEMS87ZVNUF_mg_1.html)  •  Herschel and Planck launch special (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/herschelplanck/index.html)  •  Herschel: ESA's giant infrared observatory (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Herschel/index.html)  •  Planck: looking back at the dawn of time (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Planck/index.html) Related articles  •  Herschel and Planck launcher declared fit for launch (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMKMF0YDUF_index_0.html)  •  Fairing lowered over satellites in Kourou (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMCOK0YDUF_index_0.html)  •  Herschel and Planck launch timeline (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMVW10YDUF_index_0.html)  •  Herschel and Planck buckled up and ready (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMTM70YDUF_index_0.html)  •  ESA to launch two large observatories to look deep into space and time (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMEOSZXDUF_index_0.html) Read more  •  L2, the second Lagrangian Point (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMO4QS1VED_index_0.html) In depth  •  Herschel launch campaign journal (http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=31528 &m=372 &t=625,491,490 &MISSION_OPERAND=Match Any (OR) &TOPIC_OPERAND=Match Any (OR) &farchive_objecttypeid=31 &farchive_objectid=30928)  •  Planck launch campaign journal (http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=31530 &m=94 &t=625,491,490 &MISSION_OPERAND=Match Any (OR) &TOPIC_OPERAND=Match Any (OR) &farchive_objecttypeid=31 &farchive_objectid=30928)  •  Herschel in depth (http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=16)  •  Planck in depth (http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=17)