Photos of Planck preparation for 2009 launch

 

After a flight from Nice to Amsterdam on March 27, 2008, the Planck spacecraft arrived by transporter truck at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC). Over the weekend the spacecraft was unpacked from its transport container, together with the mechanical ground support equipment (MGSE).

 

Planck mission objectives:

  • Mapping of Cosmic Microwave Background anisotropies with improved sensitivity and angular resolution
  • Determination of Hubble constant
  • Testing inflationary models of the early universe
  • Measuring amplitude of structures in Cosmic Microwave Background
 

 


Baffle Cover Removal at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC)

 

 


Transporting to the Large Space Simulator (LSS) area

 


Arrival in LSS

 

 


Hoisting Planck Surveyor into the Large Space Simulator (LSS) at ESTEC

 


Planck in LSS

 


Dry-run Spin

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