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Astronomy & fundamental physics missions
Space science has been the core of European co-operation and success in space since the early 1960s. In the first years of this new millennium, ESA is looking ahead, building on a solid past, and working today to overcome the scientific, intellectual and technological challenges of tomorrow.
Today, missions operated by ESA are exploring the Sun/Earth connection and observing the Universe from space, while active planning is underway for future astronomy and astrophysics missions.
Current missions
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Herschel
ESA's Herschel observatory carries the largest infrared telescope ever flown in space. The primary mirror has a diameter of 3.5m, over four times larger than any previous infrared space telescope and almost 1.5 times larger than that of Hubble. It collects infrared radiation from some of the most distant objects in the Universe.
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Planck
Planck serves as ESA's 'time machine', probing the beginning of space and time and helping scientists decide which theories on the birth and evolution of the Universe are correct. The satellite orbits a 'virtual point' in space known as the L2 Lagrange point, located 1.5 million km from Earth.
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Integral
Integral is the first space observatory that can simultaneously observe objects in gamma rays, X-rays and visible light. Its principal targets are violent gamma-ray bursts, powerful phenomena such as supernova explosions, and regions in the Universe thought to contain black holes.
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XMM Newton
XMM-Newton has detected more X-ray sources than any previous satellite and is helping solve cosmic mysteries, from what happens in and around black holes to how galaxies formed in the early Universe.
Current missions operated by ESA partners
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Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a space-based observatory operated through collaboration between ESA and NASA. As an efficient tool for making new discoveries, Hubble has revolutionised modern astronomy and is helping drive astronomical research overall. The HST is operated by NASA from the Goddard Space Flight Center.
Future missions
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LISA Pathfinder
LISA Pathfinder is ESA's second SMART (Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology) mission and will test technologies critical for the subsequent joint ESA/NASA Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission, to be launched in 2010. LISA will detect gravitational waves emitted by objects such as black holes.
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Gaia
Gaia will survey millions of stars in our galaxy, precisely charting their distances, movements and changes in brightness. It is expected to discover thousands of new celestial objects, including extrasolar planets.
Last update: 17 August 2009 | |
