Status summary: Herschel was successfully launched together with Planck on 14 May 2009. After a successful Commissioning phase, including cryocover opening 1 month after launch, the Performance Verification phase commenced in mid-July. An approximate overview of the early mission phases includes Commissioning Phase 2 months, Performance Verification Phase 3 months, followed by Science Demonstration Phase 1 month, going into Routine Science Phase about 6 months after launch. You can follow the progress on the HSC Operations (B)Log.

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First 'SPIRE/PACS parallel mode' observations reveal new detail in the Milky Way. In the process of getting Herschel ready for science another milestone has recently been achieved; and how! For the first time the SPIRE and PACS photometers have been used in the 'SPIRE/PACS parallel mode' to perform simultaneous observations. Six hours were spent imaging a part of the sky near the galactic plane in the constellation of the Southern Cross, see above (left) the SPIRE composite image, and (right) the corresponding PACS one. Using SPIRE and PACS in parallel produces five images in different far infrared wavelengths simultaneously, making the best possible use of the superfluid helium cryogen that ultimately defines the lifetime of the Herschel mission. See also SciTech and Corporate webreleases. [2 October 2009]

First SDP observations conducted and data provided to observers. Herschel is presently in performance verification phase (PVP). Clearly not all observing modes can be released 'ready-to-use' at the same time, thus there was always going to be a sliding transition into the Science Demonstration Phase (SDP); this transition is now becoming even more gradual as unfortunately HIFI has been unavailable since early August. The first SDP observations have recently been performed using SPIRE scan-map photometry, and the data were made available to the observers on 28 September 2009; more information on the (B)log. [30 September 2009]

Herschel commissioning declared successful. In the 'In Orbit Commissioning Review' (IOCR) Board meeting which took place in ESOC on 21 July 2009 the commissioning phase of Herschel was declared successfully completed. This marks the end of the development phase and the start of the operational phase, and it also means a formal handover of the overall responsibility of Herschel from the programme manager Thomas Passvogel to the mission manager Johannes Riedinger. [22 July 2009]

Herschel ventures into uncharted waters for 'first-light'! Building on the experience from the 'sneak preview' all three Herschel instruments have now performed their initial first test observations. The 'first-light' observations include SPIRE imaging of nearby galaxies, HIFI spectroscopy of a star-forming region, and PACS imaging spectroscopy of a planetary nebula. These very first attempts already provide spectacular data, and shows that Herschel will be able to operate as an observatory, both in space and on the ground. See also the ESA Corporate and SciTech, as well as the SPIRE, HIFI, and PACS webreleases. [10 July 2009]

Herschel's 'sneak preview' begs for more! Following the period of ground contact in which the cryocover was opened, a daring test was made following a request to attempt producing an early observational result. This 'sneak preview' of things to come was scheduled making use of time initially allocated to 'thermal stabilisation' on 14-15 June 2009. The results are more than encouraging! In left picture above the evening of the very first maps (still embargoed!), in the midddle Herschel/PACS images of M51 at 160, 100, and 70 um, and on the right the composite of the three. See also the ESA Corporate and SciTech webstories, and the MPE press release. [19 June 2009]

Herschel's cryocover commanded open on 14 June 2009! Exactly one month after the launch another critical milestone has been accomplished. After tense preparations (left picture) at 10:53:17 UTC the Herschel cryocover was commanded to open by manual commanding from the MOC at ESOC. The command was executed nominally and telemetry indicated that the cryocover reached the open position. The motion caused the spacecraft to swing almost 80 arcseconds (second picture) and careful inspection later showed that the cryocover swung back and forth six or seven times with decreasing amplitude (see also (B)Log entry 11 June). Changes in various temperatures could also be seen. Then telephones started to ring (third picture), and the Commissioning Manager called everyone to an extra briefing (right picture). Photos courtesy of P. Dieleman. [14 June 2009]

Herschel was launched on 14 May 2009! The Herschel launch campaign was brought to an end by a flawless launch into the sky above Kourou. The Ariane 5 ECA launcher disappeared from sight after just a couple of minutes, and Herschel was later released into its desired transfer trajectory 26 minutes after liftoff. Additional information can be found on the ESA - Herschel & Planck - Launch Special and 'SciTech' websites, as well as on the Arianespace's - Video Corner website. [14 May 2009]

Herschel and Planck launcher roll-out. The Ariane 5 ECA for the V188 carrying Herschel and Planck was rolled out from the BAF to the launch pad in the early morning local time in CSG Kourou on 13 May 2009. In the pictures above the launcher on its platform can be seen leaving the BAF, moving towards the pad, and arriving in the launch area. These pictures were taken at 08:39, 08:47, 08:56, and 09:31 hours local time (UT-3). More (including aerial) pictures and story on the Space Science website. [13 May 2009]

Herschel and Planck launch has green light. Following the close-out review held on 12 May 2009 of the Launch Readiness Review held on 9 May 2009 green light has formally been given for the launch on 14 May 2009; see the SciTech website. [13 May 2009]

Fairing integration revisited! Here are some stunning pictures of the fairing integration taken from inside the BAF. From left to right: the fairing positioned above the spacecraft with the telescope still being covered, looking down onto the spacecraft just after uncovering the telescope, starting to lowering the fairing, and the fairing is almost in place showing the mission logos. These are the last images that we will have of the Herschel spacecraft on the ground! More information is provided on the SciTech website. In the meantime the filling level of the cryostat has been given as 96.6% at a temperature of 1.64 K. [11 May 2009]

Cryostat closed and fairing integrated in the BAF. The cryostat helium top-up on the launcher was concluded, and the cryostat was closed four days before the launch as planned on 10 May 2009. Filling >96% with temperature <1.7 K. Then fairing integration took place, see the CCTV pictures above: the fairing was hoisted up to the spacecraft, then positioned over the spacecraft, the telescope protective cover was removed, and finally the fairing was lowered (the lower part of Herschel and the SYLDA covering Planck are visible) in place. [10 May 2009]

Herschel integrated onto the launcher in the BAF. The Herschel spacecraft was integrated onto the Ariane 5 ECA launcher on 30 April 2009. In the pictures above Herschel can be seen being lowered towards and then integrated on the SYLDA structure which is covering the Planck spacecraft. See also the SciTech website. [10 May 2009]

Launch date announced: 14 May 2009. The necessary checks of the Ariane 5 ECA launcher have been completed, and the new launch date 14 May 2009 has been announced by ESA and Arianespace. See further the Space Science website. [28 April 2009]

Herschel helium activities in Kourou. Herschel was flown across the Atlantic in 'normal' helium (He-I) conditions. All the functional testing performed in the S1B cleanroom in the 'payload preparation facility' was done in He-I conditions. After hydrazine filling in the S5 facility the cryostat has been filled with helium, and 'superfluid' helium (He-II) has been produced by pumping. Since about half the helium is lost in this process the cryostat then has been topped up in He-II conditions, 96% filling at <1.7 K was achieved on 25 April 2009. Pictures above from S5B and more about helium activites can be found in the SciTech article. Herschel is now due for transport (for which >85% filling at <1.9 K is required) to the 'final integration facility' (BAF) on 29 April 2009 where it will be mated to the launcher on the following day. The final helium top-up will be performed in the BAF with Herschel mated on top of the launcher. [28 April 2009]

Launcher investigation underway. Due to an anomaly discovered during tests on a subassembly identical to one on our Ariane 5 launcher, Arianespace has decided to carry out additional checks, which will take several days. A new launch date will be announced shortly. Herschel is currently remaining in the S5 facility. See further the Space Science website. [20 April 2009]

Hydrazine filling and ACU mating completed. After completion of functional testing in the S1B cleanroom Herschel was weighed, and on 27 March 2009 transported to the S5 facility. In S5 the hydrazine tanks were filled on 9-10 April 2009. Herschel was weighed, and then mated to the launcher adaptor (ACU) the following day. Currently the filling up of the cryostat with liquid helium, to be followed by superfluid helium production and top-up, is underway in S5. Pictures left to right: weighing in S1B, transport to S5, hydrazine filling and ACU mating in S5. See further story and photo credits SciTech website transport and fuelling features. [15 April 2009]

Launch date announced: 6 May 2009. Over the past days a panel of independent experts have cross-checked the Herschel telescope documentation and confirmed that the required safety margins are met and the telescope is fully qualified for launch. The new launch date is 6 May 2009. See further the Space Science website. [8 April 2009]

Herschel and Planck launch date update. It has been decided to postpone the announcement of the launch date of Herschel and Planck. This will allow a panel of independent experts to cross-check and demonstrate that the required safety margins for the mechanical qualification of the Herschel telescope are met. The new launch date will be defined shortly. See further the Space Science website. [2 April 2009]

Herschel 'hands-on' data processing workshops. Two Herschel 'hands-on' DP workshops have been conducted by the Herschel Science Centre (HSC) together with the three Instrument Control Centres (ICCs) and the NASA Herschel Science Center (NHSC) in ESAC on 24-25 and 26-27 March 2009. The workshops, for spectroscopy and photometry/mapping respectively, were attended by about 50 external people each. The material from these workshops is available online. A similar 'hands-on' workshop is planned to take place at the NHSC premises in Pasadena on 8-10 April 2009. [1 April 2009]

Herschel and Planck launch postponed. In order to carry out additional checks on the ground segment of the Herschel and Planck programmes, Arianespace and ESA have jointly agreed to postpone the launch initially planned for 16 April 2009. A new launch date will be announced at the end of March. See further the Herschel Space Science website. [13 March 2009]

Herschel science instruments ready for flight! The Herschel instruments have successfully been undergoing their 'short functional tests' (SFTs) in cleanroom S1B in CSG Kourou. The testing took place in the period 26 February to 9 March, was supported by members of the instrument consortia, and lasted about one half day of actual test execution for each of the instruments, SPIRE, PACS, and HIFI. The SFTs were conducted in 'normal' (as opposed to superfluid) helium conditions, verifying the proper functioning of each instrument. All three Herschel instruments have now been declared ready for flight (and the same is true for Planck). See also the SciTech website. [March 2009]

Herschel launcher located! The Herschel (and Planck) Ariane 5 ECA launcher has been fully integrated in the BIL (launcher integration building) in CSG Kourou. It has in the meantime been moved from the BIL to the BAF (final assembly building) where the Planck spacecraft, the SYLDA structure, the Herschel spacecraft, and the fairing will be integrated. Above (left picture) the BAF (left) and the BIL, and (middle picture) the launcher inside the BIL. From the the BAF the launcher will be moved to the launch pad (right picture) on the day before the launch, which is designated V188. [March 2009]

Herschel reflected in Planck. Both the Herschel and Planck spacecraft are now spending time together in the same cleanroom in Kourou undergoing launch preparations. In the pictures above (left) Planck can be seen with Herschel reflected in its primary mirror, (middle) close-up of Herschel under its telescope protective cover, and (right) a close-up of the Planck focal plane also in reflection. [February 2009]

Telescope cleaning and inspection. Both the primary and secondary reflectors of the Herschel telescope have undergone cleaning and subsequent inspection in the S1B payload preparation facility in Kourou. For more information see the SciTech feature and Arianespace's website 'News' features 16 February and 18 February. [February 2009]

Herschel has been flown to Kourou! The consent to ship Herschel to the launch site in Kourou was given on 6 Feb 2009. Herschel was packed into its shipping container which was loaded into a huge Antonov aircraft at Amsterdam Schiphol airport, from where it left in the late afternoon on 11 Feb 2009. It arrived in Cayenne airport in the early morning hours (local time) on 12 Feb 2009. In the pictures above the Herschel transport container can be seen emerging from the Antonov, and then placed on a lorry for the final ground transportation to Kourou, see also the SciTech feature. For the journey from ESTEC to Schiphol see the SciTech article. [February 2009]

Herschel in the IYA2009 opening ceremony. Herschel featured in the opening ceremony of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 IYA2009 held on the UNESCO premises in Paris on 15-16 January 2009. In the pictures from left to right (i) the President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space, Reynald Seznec uses Herschel (and Planck) to illustrate the achievements of the company, (ii) the Groningen Discovery Truck, featuring Herschel, in front of the Planck dome outside the UNESCO building, (iii) inside the truck visitors get information about Herschel and infrared light in general, and (iv) the truck is resting after a busy day. See also the SciTech wepages. [January 2009]

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Last updated: Friday, 02-Oct-2009 14:01:47 CEST