Herschel Space Observatory
Also known as Herschel
former ESA space observatory
Key facts
- Names
- Far Infrared and Submillimetre Telescope
- Mission type
- Space telescope
- Operator
- ESA / NASA
- Cospar id
- 2009-026K
- Website
- www .esa .int /herschel
- Mission duration
- Planned: 3 years , Final: 4 years, 1 month, 2 days
- Manufacturer
- Thales Alenia Space
- Launch mass
- 3,400 kg (7,500 lb)
- Payload mass
- Telescope: 315 kg (694 lb)
- Dimensions
- 7.5 m × 4.0 m (25 ft × 13 ft)
- Power
- 1 kW
- Launch date
- 14 May 2009, 13:12:02 UTC ( 2009-05-14UTC13:12:02 )
Article
Contemporary ESA insignia (2000s) Horizon 2000 (Science Programme)
The Herschel Space Observatory was a space observatory built and operated by the European Space Agency (ESA). It was active from 2009 to 2013, and was the largest infrared telescope ever launched until the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope in 2021. Herschel carries a 3.5-metre (11.5 ft) mirror and instruments sensitive to the far infrared and submillimetre wavebands (55–672 μm). Herschel was the fourth and final cornerstone mission in the Horizon 2000 programme, following SOHO, Cluster II, XMM-Newton and Rosetta.
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Categories
2013 disestablishments in EuropeArtificial satellites at Earth–Sun Lagrange pointsDerelict satellites in heliocentric orbitEuropean Space Agency space telescopesInfrared telescopesSpacecraft using Lissajous orbitsSpace probes decommissioned in 2013Space probes launched in 2009Submillimetre telescopes