01 Apr 2008 10:44

Loading of the Planck spacecraft on to the Antonov 124 cargo aircraft at Nice airport for the flight to Amsterdam, 27 March

Before going to CSL in Liège for the final thermal and cryogenic spacecraft system test, Planck will be subjected to a fine balancing test, in light vacuum (around 1 mbar), inside the Large Space Simulator at ESTEC. As the Planck spacecraft will rotate in orbit at 1 rpm around its longitudinal axis, the objective of this test is to characterise, with sufficient precision, its inertial properties. Performing the test under vacuum (1 mbar) will provide a better assessment of these properties than if performed in ambient conditions.

Planck flight model in ESTEC cleanroom after unpacking, 31 March

Upon completion of these test activities the Planck spacecraft will be transported from ESTEC to the Centre Spatial de Liège (CSL). This is, however, another story, which will be detailed later.