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Yang Liwei Rocket

Member

Registered: 2004-03-03

Posts: 993

Re: Herschel - ESA Infrared Observatory

The ESA's infrared space telescope Herschel launches in 2007,  it will be the first space observatory covering the full far infrared and sub-millimetre waveband, and its telescope will have the largest mirror ever deployed in space. It will be located 1.5 million kilometres away from Earth at the second Lagrange point of the Earth-Sun system.

some photos

http://www.techno-science.net/?onglet=news&news=1841
http://spire.uleth.ca/spireinst.cfm

Herschel will investigate the creation of stars and their interaction with the interstellar medium and observe the chemical composition of the atmospheres and surfaces of comets, planets and satellites.

Herschel - the biggest space telecope ever
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=19953
ESA TV Exchanges

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'first steps are not for cheap, think about it...
did China build a great Wall in a day ?' ( Y L R newmars forum member )

Rxke

Member

From: Belgium

Registered: 2003-11-03

Posts: 3,669

Re: Herschel - ESA Infrared Observatory

This will prove to be a *very* exciting mission. It'll tell us a lot about planet-foormation too, how accretion happens etc. One can't even begin imagining this mission will tell us about the universe.

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,267

Re: Herschel - ESA Infrared Observatory

launches together with Planck
http://www.newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4476

EuroLauncher

Member

From: Europe

Registered: 2005-10-19

Posts: 299

Re: Herschel - ESA Infrared Observatory

also mentioned here

Astrobiology

The Herschel Space Observatory, previously known as FIRST, will succeed ISO in the search for complex molecules in space. This new infrared telescope is due for launch in 2007. Herschel, in which NASA is a partner, is one of the four cornerstone missions of ESA's Science programme. As part of a three year programme of observations, it will study discs where planets may form, and look at cometary atmospheres full of complex organic molecules.

Yang Liwei Rocket

Member

Registered: 2004-03-03

Posts: 993

Re: Herschel - ESA Infrared Observatory

Herschel's heart and brain mated

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'first steps are not for cheap, think about it...
did China build a great Wall in a day ?' ( Y L R newmars forum member )

EuroLauncher

Member

From: Europe

Registered: 2005-10-19

Posts: 299

Re: Herschel - ESA Infrared Observatory

Biggest Space Telescope Yet On Display in Europe
http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2007 … ace-t.html
The European Space Agency offered a  preview look Thursday at its powerful Herschel, which, when launched next year, will be the largest space telescope yet put into orbit.

cIclops

Member

Registered: 2005-06-16

Posts: 3,230

Re: Herschel - ESA Infrared Observatory

Homepage

The European Space Agency's Herschel Space Observatory (formerly called Far Infrared and Sub-millimetre Telescope or FIRST) has the largest mirror ever built for a space telescope. At 3.5-metres in diameter the mirror will collect long-wavelength radiation from some of the coldest and most distant objects in the Universe. In addition, Herschel will be the only space observatory to cover a spectral range from the far infrared to sub-millimetre.

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cIclops

Member

Registered: 2005-06-16

Posts: 3,230

Re: Herschel - ESA Infrared Observatory

Inspecting the 3.5 primary mirror in the cleanroom at ESTEC - imaged 30 Jan 2008

Flight model at ESTEC - 1 Feb 2008

The Herschel telescope's primary mirror is the largest mirror ever built for space. It is made out of 12 silicon carbide (SiC) petals brazed together and coated with a thin aluminium reflective layer. The SiC provides a rigid but lightweight structure with the telescope mass totalling at about 320 kg.

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[color=darkred]Let's go to Mars and far beyond -  triple NASA's budget ![/color] [url=irc://freenode#space]  #space channel !! [/url] [url=http://www.youtube.com/user/c1cl0ps]   - videos !!![/url]

cIclops

Member

Registered: 2005-06-16

Posts: 3,230

Re: Herschel - ESA Infrared Observatory

Ready for mating to the spacecraft - imaged 16 Apr 2008

more images from inside the clean room

Spacecraft assembly complete - 23 Apr 2008

The mirror of the Herschel telescope has now been assembled with the payload and service module, completing the spacecraft structure - an important milestone in the days following through to launch.

The sunshield and solar arrays were assembled with the cryostat and service module on 11 April. The telescope was assembled on 16 April. The spacecraft will be subjected to several mechanical tests over the next few weeks.

Herschel Science Centre

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[color=darkred]Let's go to Mars and far beyond -  triple NASA's budget ![/color] [url=irc://freenode#space]  #space channel !! [/url] [url=http://www.youtube.com/user/c1cl0ps]   - videos !!![/url]