After two and a half years of observing the Cosmic Microwave Background, the ESA Planck spacecraft's High Frequency Instrument ran out of its on-board coolant gases over this past weekend, reaching the end of its very successful mission. But that doesn't mean the end for Planck observations. The Low Frequency Instrument, which does not need
Posted by Universe Today
Nearly two-and-a-half years after its launch, the end of ESA's Planck mission has begun. (In fact, the BBC scooped the rest of the Planck collaboration itself with a story last week; you can read the UK take at the excellent Cardiff-led public Planck site.)Planck's High-Frequency Instrument (HFI) instrument must be cooled to 0. 1 degrees above absolute zero, maintained at this temperature by a series of refrigerators — which had been making Planck the coldest known object in space, colder t
Posted by Andrew Jaffe: Leaves on the Line
... Planck's High Frequency Instrument has used the last of its coolant and ended its mission. The Low Frequency Instrument will continue operating for a further year.
Posted by Planck News
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