Planck Flight Model Ready To Ship To Cryogenic Test Center
Planck is the first European mission to study the birth of the Universe |
by Staff Writers
Cannes, France (SPX) Feb 08, 2006
The Planck Flight Model is currently being prepared for transport from the prime contractor Alcatel Alenia Space (located in Cannes, France) to the cryogenic test facility at Centre Spaciale de Liege (Belgium) where the spacecraft will undergo thermal balance testing.
In its current configuration all essential electronics are integrated as well as two main cryogenic coolers. The test in the specially equipped vacuum chamber in CSL will be executed in March 2006. A second campaign in the same chamber will be executed mid 2007 when the full spacecraft configuration, including the instruments and the telescope, has been established.
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