INTEGRATION MILESTONE FOR ARIANE 5’S LAUNCH WITH HERSCHEL AND PLANCK

Ariane 5’s lower passenger for its second mission of 2009 – the Planck space observatory – has been encapsulated in the SYLDA dispenser system, which allows the heavy-lift launcher to carry its dual space science payload. Planck will be joined on this upcoming flight from Europe’s Spaceport by Herschel, which is the largest space telescope ever launched.