The Herschel / Planck Programme - Technical Challenges for two Science Missions - Ready for Launch

Paper number

IAC-08.A3.4.2

Author

Mr. Jean-Michel Reix, Thales Alenia Space, France

Coauthor

Dr. Bernard Collaudin, Thales Alenia Space, France

Coauthor

Mr. Thomas Passvogel, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Gerald Crone, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Pascal Rideau, Thales Alenia Space France, France

Coauthor

Mr. Yvan Roche, Thales Alenia Space France, France

Year

2008

Abstract

The two science missions Herschel, an observatory-type mission, and Planck, a survey mission, are combined in one programme within ESAs long-term science programme.

Herschel, an observatory mission, will target the largely unexplored infrared and sub-millimetre part of the electromagnetic spectrum from 60 to 670 microns with three scientific instruments. 

As a survey mission, the objective for Planck is to image systematically the whole sky simultaneously with two scientific instruments in nine frequency channels between 30 and 900 GHz to unravel the temperature fluctuations, the anisotropy, of the cosmic background radiation. 

For both satellites, which will be launched from the European Space Port in Kourou, French Guiana, on a single Ariane 5 launcher, the orbits will be Lissajous orbits around the 2nd Lagrange Point L2 of the Earth-Sun system. 

Having surpassed the technological problems and to a major extent the validation of the instruments, this paper will recall the Herschel & Planck spacecraft’s characteristics, the mission aspects and the science requirements.

The integration and acceptance verification of both spacecraft flight models nearing completion, this paper will highlight the development & spacecraft level acceptance tests status and focus on the major milestones including the program status in view to a launch from Kourou on Ariane 5 scheduled in the end of 2008.

Abstract document

IAC-08.A3.4.2.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.A3.4.2.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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