COROT launch postponed


Snowy launch pad in Baikonur... 28 November 2006
 
Snowy launch pad in Baikonur
 
 
7 December 2006
 
COROT, the upcoming mission to detect exoplanets and probe the interior of stars, now has 27 December as a tentative launch date for its launch from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
 
The launch was previously planned for 21 December.

After launch, COROT will be set onto a polar circular orbit around Earth. This orbit will allow for continuous observation of two large regions in opposite directions of the sky for more than 150 days each. Within each region there are many selected star fields that will be monitored in turn. The first target field is towards Orion, then the spacecraft will turn towards the centre of our Galaxy, the Milky Way.
 
 
 For more information
  
Malcolm Fridlund, ESA COROT Project Scientist
Email: malcolm.fridlund @ esa.int
 
 

More about...

 •  COROT overview (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/120372_index_0_m.html)
 •  COROT factsheet (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMO6C1A6BD_index_0.html)

Related articles

 •  COROT fuels up (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMMFV8L6VE_index_0.html)
 •  COROT started its launch campaign in Baikonur (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMXRVC4VUE_index_0.html)
 •  COROT and the new chapter of planetary searches (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMCBN0CYTE_index_0.html)
 •  Europe goes searching for rocky planets (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMN45PFHTE_index_0.html)
 •  How many planets are outside our Solar System? (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMZVI5V9ED_index_0.html)
 •  How to find an extrasolar planet (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMYZF9YFDD_index_0.html)
 •  ESA ESTEC expertise and facilities assist COROT project (http://www.esa.int/techresources/ESTEC-Article-fullArticle_par-28_1122386985547.html)
 •  Planet discoverer: An interview with Didier Queloz (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMK13T1VED_index_0_iv.html)

Related links

 •  COROT at CNES (http://smsc.cnes.fr/COROT/)
 •  Extrasolar Planets Encyclopedia (http://www.exoplanet.eu)