Herschel Space Observatory, ESA Options

[Guest_PhilCo126_*]

ESA's Herschel space observatory will carry the largest telescope ( 3.5 meter Cassegrain mirror with Focal Length 2.70 m ) ever deployed in space. New materials enabled it to only weigh 320 kilograms.
In comparison, the Hubble Space Telescope's 2.4 meter Cassegrain mirror ( Focal Length 57.6 m ) weights 1090 kilograms.

Does anyone know of which material the Herschel mirror is made???

the other Philip

[ustrax]

Here you have it.

[Guest_PhilCo126_*]

Thank You, it looks like they initially planned a lower weight:
The large size of Herschel’s primary mirror meant that it could not be built in a single piece but instead had to be constructed from 12 separate 'petals', thus becoming the first 'segmented' space mirror as well as the largest to date, weighing 240 kg with an average thickness of about 20 cm and a front face thickness of between two and three millimetres.

[ustrax]

Assembly complete!

[GravityWaves]

assuming the launch is sucessful how long will it take to travel from Earth orbit into L2 point

[Rakhir]

"In less than six months, Herschel will reach its operational orbit around (...) L2"
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMA539YFDD_index_0.html

[Guest_PhilCo126_*]

http://herschel.esac.esa.int/latest_news.shtml

[Guest_PhilCo126_*]

For those in the neighborhood during holidays in South of France;
http://www.oamp.fr/expo-herschel/

[climber]

If you have access to this AWST article: http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/sto...Endeavor%20Ever

[climber]

For those in the neighborhood during holidays in South of France;

Unfortunately this is "the other" South... best for Ant than me from South West.

[Guest_PhilCo126_*]

The latest on Herschel: http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMHNBANJTF_index_0.html

[climber]

Follow the launch here: http://www.videocorner.tv/


ARIANESPACE FLIGHT - HERSCHEL and PLANCK

The launch readiness review (RAL) took place in Kourou on Tuesday, May 12, 2008 and authorized count-down operations for the HERSCHEL & PLANCK launch.

For its second launch of the year, Arianespace will orbit two scientific satellites for the European Space Agency: the Herschel space telescope and the Planck scientific observatory.

The two satellites are being launched towards the Lagrange Point (L2), once again demonstrating the operational capabilities of Ariane 5. This is the only launch vehicle on the commercial market today capable of launching two payloads simultaneously, and handling a complete array of missions, from commercial launches into geostationary orbit, to scientific missions into special orbits.

It will be launched from the Ariane launch complex N° 3 (ELA3), in Kourou, French Guiana.

The Ariane 5 ECA launcher lift-off for this flight is scheduled during the day of May 14, 2009 as soon as possible within the following launch window:

UTC
Between 1:12 p.m.
and 2:07 p.m. on
May 14, 2009

Paris, France
Between 3:12 p.m.
and 4:07 p.m. on
May 14, 2009

Kourou, French Guiana
Between 10:12 a.m.
and 11:07 a.m. on
May 14, 2009

Washington, D.C., USA
Between 9:12 a.m.
and 10:07 a.m. on
May 14, 2009

Moscow, Russia
Between 5:12 p.m.
and 6:07 p.m. on
May 14, 2009

[nprev]

Great news!!! Thanks for that detailed info, Climber.

Does anyone have a good link for launch coverage? I haven't tried to see an Ariane launch on the Web before, and frankly have had a tough time drilling down to equivalent NASA coverage before.

[climber]

Just follow the link I posted at the begining of my post, it works.

[stewjack]

Watch Hubble repair mission, or watch Ariane 5 HERSCHEL & PLANCK launch? Watch Hubble repair mission, or watch Ariane 5 HERSCHEL & PLANCK launch? Watch Hubble repair mission, or watch Ariane 5 HERSCHEL & PLANCK launch? Watch Hubble repair mission, or watch Ariane 5 HERSCHEL & PLANCK launch? Watch Hubble repair mission, or watch Ariane 5 HERSCHEL & PLANCK launch? ARRGGGHH