Assembly Begins On Second Ariane 5 For The Year

LAUNCH PAD

The Planck spacecraft will analyze radiation remnants that filled the universe immediately after the Big Bang, which are observed today as the Cosmic Microwave Background. Data from Planck will provide answers to the universe's creation, and how it could evolve in the future.

by Staff Writers
Kourou, French Guiana (SPX) Feb 11, 2009
The launch vehicle for Arianespace's second Ariane 5 flight of 2009 has begun its assembly at the Spaceport in French Guiana, marking the startup of preparations for a dual-satellite mission that will yield new insights into the formation of stars and the universe's creation.

During activity in the Spaceport's Launcher Integration Building, the Ariane 5's core cryogenic stage was situated over its massive mobile launch table, followed by the positioning of the vehicle's two solid rocket boosters.

Liftoff of this Ariane 5 is planned for April with a pair of European Space Agency space science payloads: the Herschel space telescope, and the Planck spacecraft. Herschel will study the formation of stars and galaxies, while Planck is to gather data on remaining radiation from the Big Bang cosmic explosion.

Herschel will be the largest space telescope of its kind ever launched. Its ability to detect space radiation at far infrared and sub-millimeter wavelengths will help scientists to determine how the first galaxies were created, and how they evolved into their present-day form.

Arianespace is maintaining the Ariane 5 mission pace to meet its customers' needs, with plans for a total of six to eight launches this year. The first liftoff of 2009 is set for this Thursday, February 12, with the vehicle now ready for its rollout to the Spaceport's ELA-3 launch zone.

Share This Article With Planet Earth

del.icio.us Digg Reddit

YahooMyWeb Google Facebook

Related Links
Arianespace
Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS
Solar Energy Solutions
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ...

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

LAUNCH PAD

Arianespace And Thales Announce Contract With Russian Operator Gazprom

Paris, France (SPX) Feb 09, 2009
Arianespace has been chosen to launch the two communications satellites, Yamal-401 and Yamal-402 within the scope of a contract between Thales Alenia Space and Russian operator Gazprom.

ENERGY TECH Learn About The US Specialty Fuel Additives Market Stimulus To Drive Wind Expansion NSTAR Sponsors MIT Clean Energy Competition SKorea court limits compensation by Hong Kong tanker	CIVIL NUCLEAR France looks to boost nuclear energy exports Analysis: Nuclear revival in Sweden US Nuclear Power Plants Achieved Near-Record Level Of Production In 2008 Sweden reverses decision to phase out nuclear power
BLUE SKY Science In The Stratosphere Americans Owe Five Months Of Their Lives To Cleaner Air Does Global Warming Lead To A Change In Upper Atmospheric Transport Greenhouse gas emissions study released	WOOD PILE Row in Brazil over reforestation reduction Climate change threatens Lebanon's legendary cedars Brazilian Indians fleeing bulldozers: group Congo must do more for forests: NGO
FARM NEWS Safety scandal hits China's dairy exports: state media West African nations team up to fight caterpillars Tiny Brunei farm sector sees big flood losses: govt Too Much TV Linked To Future Fast-Food Intake	CAR TECH Culture shock: Getting a Chinese driver's licence Tesla shifts electric sedan site to win US government loan Toyota Eco-Friendly Dealerships Lead In Environmental Construction Development Center For Hybrid And Electric Vehicle Battery Systems
AEROSPACE Bank of China extends massive credit to state aircraft maker Shanghai Airlines seeks capital injection China Eastern may take three years to be profitable: chairman First China-assembled Airbus set for May test flight: report	NUCLEAR SPACE Nuclear Power In Space - Part 2 Nuclear Power In Space Outside View: Nuclear future in space

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement