The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Herschel will launch on an Ariane rocket from the Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana in Spring 2009. It will shared the launch with ESA's Planck microwave observatory. The two vehicles will separate shortly after launch and proceed independently to different orbits around the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system (L2). The launcher will burn its solid boosters for just under 2.5 minutes and its main and upper stage engines for about 25 minutes setting Herschel and then Planck on the path to L2.