Space Observatories readied for twin launch

Artists impression of Herschel
Credit: ESA

UK scientists and industry were major contributors to two outstanding space telescopes – the Herschel Space Observatory and the Planck satellite.

Herschel, with its vast 3.5 metre primary mirror, is the largest space telescope ever built and will view the Universe at the far infrared part of the spectrum. Light at this wavelength can penetrate dust clouds and its instruments will be able to detect the faint glow of dust and particles surrounding regions where stars and galaxies are formed.

UK astronomers have been allocated around a third of Herschel’s observation time and the UK-led Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver, SPIRE, contains a sophisticated camera that can take detailed ‘colour’ images.

Planck’s 1.5 metre telescope will focus variations in the Cosmic Microwave Background – radiation left over from the Big Bang – onto a High Frequency instrument and the UK built Low Frequency Instrument.

The instruments will operate only a tenth of a degree above absolute zero and will build up a detailed picture of the early Universe by mapping electromagnetic ripples from the moment of creation.

• Planck’s High Frequency Instrument cooling system and channels on its Low Frequency Instrument were built in the UK.
  
  
• SPIRE was assembled and tested at STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, which will also run the SPIRE Operations.
  
  
• Both telescopes involved UK industry.
  
  
• The Rose study (Relevance of Science Education Project) in England found that, when asked to choose a field of research they would pursue as scientists, most students chose either treatment of diseases or aspects of space science – because of its interest and excitement.