images

Herschel spacecraft's mirror

by

P.Dumas/ESA/Novapix

Reference

e-sou12-20007

Date

2009-02-03

The gigantic telescope of ESA’s space-based infrared observatory, Herschel, is being prepared to be assembled with its spacecraft.
Herschel’s telescope, which will carry the largest mirror ever flown in space, has been delivered to ESA’s European Space Research and Technology Centre, ESTEC, where engineers and scientists are busy with the final steps that will prepare the infrared observatory for launch in 2009.
ESA's Herschel Space Observatory will observe at wavelengths never covered before. It will be located 1.5 million kilometres away from Earth, farther than any previous space telescope.