ESA News
http://www.esa.int

23 April 2008
 
Herschel spacecraft assembly complete

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.

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.

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.

This powerful telescope will allow scientists to look deep into space, at
long infrared wavelengths. Herschels 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.

[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM0Z0QJCFF_index_1.html ]
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