ESAHome
   
Space Science
About Space ScienceESA's 'Cosmic Vision'Science & Technology in-depth
Multimedia
Science imagesScience videosAnimationsDownloadsSounds from space
Media centre
Press ReleasesPress kitsESA Television
Resources
Reference sectionGlossaryFAQs
Science missions
Services
HelpLegal disclaimerCommentsSubscribe
Follow us
RSS feedsESA Sci on Twitter
 
 
 
Bookmark and Share
 
 
 
 
Article Images
Giant Herschel telescope assembled
 
23 September 2005

Download:
 HI-RES JPG (Size: 834 kb)
The Herschel telescope’s primary mirror is being coated with a thin aluminium cover, which is the ‘working’ surface of the telescope, in the vacuum chamber by Calar Alto Observatory, Spain.

Credits: EADS Astrium/ P. Dumas
 
 
Herschel, telescope, petals, Science
Download:
 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 163 kb)
The petals to form the Herschel primary mirrors are ready for brazing by Boostec facilities, France.

Credits: EADS Astrium/Boostec
 
 
Download:
 HI-RES JPG (Size: 1151 kb)
The primary and secondary mirrors of the Herschel telescope are being aligned at EADS Astrium facilities, Toulouse, France.

Credits: EADS Astrium/ P. Dumas
 
 
Download:
 HI-RES JPG (Size: 1087 kb)
The Herschel telescope is being assembled at EADS Astrium facilities in Toulouse, France.

Credits: EADS Astrium/ P. Dumas
 
 
Download:
 HI-RES JPG (Size: 225 kb)
The transport of the giant Herschel primary mirror from Toulouse to Turku in Finland (where the telescope underwent polishing of its optical surface) had to be carried out using a Beluga aircraft borrowed from Airbus.

Credits: VESA Mörskv
 
 
More about...
Herschel overviewHerschel in-depthJWST
Related articles
ESA on the trail of the earliest starsObservations: Seeing in infrared wavelengthsThe largest telescope mirror ever put into spaceWhy infrared astronomy is a hot topicRevealing the invisible: Caroline and William HerschelHow many stars are there in the Universe?
 
 
 
   Copyright 2000 - 2012 © European Space Agency. All rights reserved.