Herschel Space Observatory - An ESA facility for far-infrared and submillimetre astronomy

TL;DR

Herschel Space Observatory is an ESA mission launched in 2009, providing advanced far-infrared and submillimetre observations with a large silicon carbide telescope and multiple instruments, enabling groundbreaking astronomical research.

Contribution

This paper introduces Herschel as the largest passively cooled space telescope for far-infrared and submillimetre astronomy, detailing its innovative technology and collaborative operational model.

Findings

Unprecedented observational capabilities in 55-671 μm range.

Large silicon carbide telescope with novel cooling technology.

Open access model for the astronomical community.

Abstract

Herschel was launched on 14 May 2009, and is now an operational ESA space observatory offering unprecedented observational capabilities in the far-infrared and submillimetre spectral range 55-671 {\mu}m. Herschel carries a 3.5 metre diameter passively cooled Cassegrain telescope, which is the largest of its kind and utilises a novel silicon carbide technology. The science payload comprises three instruments: two direct detection cameras/medium resolution spectrometers, PACS and SPIRE, and a very high-resolution heterodyne spectrometer, HIFI, whose focal plane units are housed inside a superfluid helium cryostat. Herschel is an observatory facility operated in partnership among ESA, the instrument consortia, and NASA. The mission lifetime is determined by the cryostat hold time. Nominally approximately 20,000 hours will be available for astronomy, 32% is guaranteed time and the remainder is open to the worldwide general astronomical community through a standard competitive proposal procedure.