Deep-space observatories

The engineers, scientists and astronomers behind the Herschel and Planck missions (The Engineer, 21 April 2009) have confirmed that the deep-space observatories will be launched aboard Ariane 5 on 14 May 2009.

The UK has invested £13m into Herschel,­­ the 3.5m mirror of which will collect long-wavelength radiation from some of the coldest and most distant objects in the universe, and £17m into Planck, which is designed to make precision measurements of the cosmic background radiation.

They will be launched jointly to the second Lagrange point (L2), an area on the far side of the Earth from the Sun, and will peer into deep space.

Richard Holdaway, director of space services at the Science and Technology Facilities Council, said: ‘This is only the second mission ever to L2 to gather the most detailed information ever on the birth of the universe.