ESA Awards Two Science Satellites to Alcatel Space

The European Space Agency (ESA) is awarding Alcatel Space a contract for the design, construction, launch and in-orbit testing of the Herschel and Planck astronomy satellites (original name was the Far Infrared Submillimeter Telescope, or FIRST). The satellites will have a common design and be launched together on an Ariane 5 rocket in 2007. The contract is valued at US$332 million (Euros 369 million). The total cost of the missions is likely to be close to 500 million euros. A signing ceremony, will be scheduled for June, perhaps during the Paris air show

The Herschel space observatory will survey the full far-infrared and sub-millimeter waveband to study the formation and evolution of stars and galaxies. It is named after Sir William Herschel, the discoverer of infrared light. Planck’s mission is to study cosmic background radiation for clues to the origin of the universe. It is named after 20th century physicist Max Planck. The satellites will separate once in orbit and be operated as distinct missions. Herschel and Planck will operate from an orbit 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, in the opposite direction of the sun, an area known as L2, the second Lagrangian point.

Herschel, measures 7 meters high (23 ft) and 4.3 meters (14.1 ft) wide, will weigh over 3,200 kg (7050 lbm) at launch. It will carry three science instruments in addition to its infrared telescope, and is expected to operate for three years. Planck will measure 3.8 meters high (12.5 ft) and 4.5 meters (14.8 ft) wide with a design life of 18 months.

Alcatel Space, Paris, will be responsible for the overall coordination of the development of both satellites. The company will manage the construction of the Planck satellite’s experiment module, and the integration and testing of the Planck satellite. Astrium GmbH, Friedrichshafen, Germany, will build the Herschel cryostat. Alenia Spazio, Rome, will build the service modules, which house the electricity generating hardware and other housekeeping functions, for both the Planck and Herschel satellites

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