Herschel and Planck

Watch a replay of the Herschel First Results Media Day webcast on 6 May, 12:00-12:50 CEST. The programme features live coverage of the 'First Results' presentations by ESA's Director of Science and Robotic Exploration and Herschel scientists. Herschel was launched in May 2009 and began viewing the sky a month later. The event will take place at Space Expo, at ESA's European Space Research and Technology Centre, Noordwijk, The Netherlands.More information including programme schedule here.Watch live streaming video from eurospaceagency at livestream.com

The initial orbit provided at separation on 14 May by the Ariane 5 has given near-perfect initial trajectories for both Herschel and Planck, now travelling on separate but similar paths toward their final orbits around L2, according to the mission control teams at ESOC, ESA's European Space Operations Centre.

Video showing the Herschel and Planck satellite pair lifting off on board an Ariane 5 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on 14 May 2009 at 15:12 CEST.

Stunning images taken from Earth and space show Herschel and Planck in flight on 14 May 2009. The first, taken from Herschel, show the Planck-Sylda composite just after Herschel's separation, about 1150 km above Africa.