Giant Herschel telescope assembled   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.   The petals to form the Herschel primary mirrors are ready for brazing by Boostec facilities, France.   The primary and secondary mirrors of the Herschel telescope are being aligned at EADS Astrium facilities, Toulouse, France.   The Herschel telescope is being assembled at EADS Astrium facilities in Toulouse, France.   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. Release date: 23 September 2005