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.
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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
Go to topicXMM, the world's largest and most powerful X-ray telescope, was launched from Kourou, French Guiana, on 10 December 1999, by an Ariane 5 launcher. The mission's scientific data is being received, processed and dispatched to astronomers by ESA's XMM Science Operations Centre in Villafranca, Spain. The first three images are to be displayed on 9 February 2000. The pictures will show parts of the sky never seen before in X-ray light. XMM has been renamed the XMM Newton Observatory by ESA scientists. This VNR provides an overview of XMM and the announcement of forthcoming XMM images. It contains two A-rolls with commentary in English and Spanish. The B-roll footage includes: XMM graphics; Ariane 5 launch of XMM; Control and Operations Centre, Darmstadt, Germany; XMM cleanroom footage; black hole animation; starfield animation; various images from Rosat German X-ray Observatory; various supernova remnants; expansion cloud from Supernova 1987A; various shots of XMM Science Centre, Villafranca, Spain, ESOC, Villafranca, Spain; interviews with Roger Bonnet (ESA Science Director), Robert Laine (XMM Project Manager) in English and French; interview with Daniel Ponz (XMM Science Centre) in Spanish; interview with Fred Jansen (XMM Project Scientist) in English; interview with Kieth Masen (Mullard Space Science Lab) in English. Full shotlist available.