The mission was predicted to end over a month ago but is still going strong with little evidence that the Helium is running out!
The extended life of Herschel will allow more stunning observations to be made like the recent images captured by the SPIRE (assembled and tested at RAL Space) and PACS instruments of one of the most iconic cosmic objects in astronomy – the Horsehead Nebula in Orion. The nebula itself is part of an immense stellar nursery known as the Orion B molecular cloud, a tangled web of infrared emitting dust, illuminated by the hot young stars being born within.
For more information please contact:
RAL Space Enquiries