Herschel Spacecraft
Assembly Complete
(23 April 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.
A picture of the Herschel telescope resting on the cryostat, taken on 16 April 2008. The Herschel telescope has been assembled with the payload and service modules, at ESA's European Space Research and Technology Centre, completing the assembly of the entire spacecraft. This powerful telescope will allow scientists to look deep into space, at long infrared wavelengths. Herschel’s spectral coverage, which ranges from far-infrared to sub-millimetre wavelengths, will be made available for space-based observations for the first time. (courtesy: ESA)
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.
The mirror of the Herschel telescope, with its protective cover, ready to be lifted for installation on to the cryostat. This picture was taken on 16 April 2008. This powerful telescope will allow scientists to look deep into space, at long infrared wavelengths. Herschel’s spectral coverage, which ranges from far-infrared to sub-millimetre wavelengths, will be made available for space-based observations for the first time. (courtesy: ESA)
The telescope mirror of the Herschel infrared observatory is a 3.5-m diameter technological marvel. It is made from 12 silicon-carbide petals brazed together to form a single structure and coated with a layer of reflective aluminium, forming a remarkably lightweight mirror.
This picture was taken at at ESA's European Space Research and Technology Centre on 11 April as the Herschel infrared observatory's solar array and sunshield were being assembled. Herschel will make it possible to observe and study relatively cool objects everywhere in the universe, from our own back yard to distant galaxies, teaching us much more about the birth and evolution of stars and galaxies. (courtesy: ESA)
The fully-assembled telescope, which includes the primary mirror, the secondary mirror and its support structure, is a feathery 320 kg; remarkably low for such a sturdy structure capable of withstanding high launch loads and functioning precisely in the harsh environment of space.
The Herschel spacecraft’s sunshield being assembled with the solar array. This picture was taken on 11 April 2008 at ESA's European Space Research and Technology Centre, ESTEC. The Herschel infrared observatory will make it possible to observe and study relatively cool objects everywhere in the universe, from our own back yard to distant galaxies, teaching us much more about the birth and evolution of stars and galaxies. (courtesy: ESA)
This powerful telescope will allow
scientists to look deep into space, at long infrared wavelengths. Herschel's
spectral coverage, which ranges from far-infrared to sub-millimetre
wavelengths, will be made available for space-based observations for the first
time.
Herschel will make it possible to observe and study relatively
cool objects everywhere in the universe, from our own back yard to distant
galaxies, teaching us much more about the birth and evolution of stars and
galaxies.
(source: ESA)
