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Herschel and Planck commissioning has begun
21 May 2009
| Shortly after launch, Herschel and Planck will separate from the launcher’s upper stage and head independently 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 spacecraft to reach their destination.
Credits: ESA (animation by AOES Medialab) | |  |  | |
| | | | | Ariane 5 V188 with Herschel and Planck on board rises above ESA's 15m ESTRACK tracking station at Kourou, French Guiana, just after liftoff at 15:12 CEST, 14 May 2009.
Credits: ESA/A. Chance | | | | |
| | | | Critical LEOP phase winding down
| This animation shows the Herschel spacecraft leaving Earth and heading towards its operational orbit around the 2nd Lagrangian Point (L2).
L2 is a virtual point in space situated at 1.5 million kilometres from Earth (about four times the distance between Earth and the Moon), in the opposite direction to the Sun.
Herschel will orbit L2 at an average distance of about 800 000 km; a minimum of three years of routine science operations are foreseen.
Credits: ESA (animation by C. Carreau) | | | | |
| | | | | This artist's concept shows the path of Planck to its operational orbit around the second Lagrangian point in space (L2), 1.5 million kilometres away from Earth.
Credits: ESA, image by C. Carreau | | | | |
| | | | | Orbits of Herschel and Planck around L2, the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system.
Credits: BBC/ ESA | | | | |
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| | Herschel and Planck launch special Herschel: ESA's giant infrared observatory Planck: looking back at the dawn of time Space Operations & Situational Awareness Related articles Herschel and Planck: Near-perfect injection by ArianeESA's cosmic explorers in flight: stunning images from ground and spaceESA en route to the origins of the UniverseWatch Herschel-Planck launch 14 May 2009 15:12 CEST (replay)Herschel and Planck launcher at launch padHerschel and Planck launcher declared fit for launchFairing lowered over satellites in KourouHerschel and Planck launch timelineRead more L2, the second Lagrangian PointIn depth This article in depthHerschel launch campaign journalPlanck launch campaign journalHerschel in depthPlanck in depth
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