This image may not be used to state or imply ESA endorsement of any company or product Planck orbital separation, artwork. This mission was launched i
This image may not be used to state or imply ESA endorsement of any company or product Planck orbital separation, artwork. This mission was launched into space on 14 May 2009 by an Ariane 5 rocket. The spacecraft (upper right) was contained in the rocket's upper stage (lower left) from which it is separating here. Planck is designed to study the Cosmic Microwave Background, the radiation left over from the Big Bang. High above the Earth, about 30 minutes after launch, it separated from its launcher and headed towards the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system (L2), some million kilometres from Earth in the direction opposite to the Sun. The spacecraft measures metres by metres.
Size: 3500px × 2625px
Photo credit: © EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY/D. DUCROS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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