Planck
Europe
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Credit: Manufacturer Image
Space observatory designed to observe the fine detail of the cosmic microwave background. Planck reached the Earth-Sun L2 Lagrangian point in July 2009, and had successfully completed a second all-sky survey by February 2010. Cosmic Background satellite built by Alcatel Space Systems (prime), Astrium GmbH, Alenia Spazio for ESA, Europe. Launched 2009.
More at: Planck.
Related
- Family
- Astronomy
- Country
- Europe
- Launch Vehicles
- Ariane 5, Ariane 5ECA
- Launch Sites
- Kourou ELA3
Chronology
1 event
2009 May 14
13:12 GMT - . Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: Kourou ELA3. LV Family: Ariane 5. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5ECA.- Planck - .
Mass: 1,940 kg (4,270 lb). Nation: Europe.
Agency: Arianespace.
Class: Astronomy.
Type: Microwave astronomy satellite. Spacecraft: Planck.
USAF Sat Cat: 34938 . COSPAR: 2009-026B.
Cosmic background radiation anisotropy satellite, carried a telescope with a primary mirror of 1.5 meter in size. Mission was to measure the fine structure of the temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation over the whole sky, leading to a better understanding of conditions at the time of the big bang. After completing a successful mission, the spacecraft was sent into solar orbit and was deactivated. Planck departed L2 on 14 August 2013 and was turned off on 23 October in a 1.00 AU x 1.10 AU x 0.1 deg inclination solar orbit.