This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/8050157.stm

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Lift-off from European telescopes Lift-off for European telescopes
(about 1 hour later)
A rocket carrying Europe's Herschel and Planck space telescopes has lifted off from Kourou in French Guiana. Europe's Herschel and Planck telescopes have blasted into space on an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou in French Guiana.
The satellites are being sent into orbit to gather fundamental new insights into the nature of the cosmos.The satellites are being sent into orbit to gather fundamental new insights into the nature of the cosmos.
Their Ariane 5 lifted clear of the equatorial spaceport at 1312 GMT (1412 BST) on a flight scheduled to last just under 30 minutes. The Ariane lifted clear of the launch pad at 1312 GMT (1412 BST) on a flight that lasted just under half an hour.
Mission controllers in Germany should get signals 10 minutes later to confirm they have control of the telescopes. Mission controllers in Germany made contact with the telescopes just a few minutes after they had separated from the rocket's upper-stage.
The rocket ride is just the first stage in a long journey for the astronomical satellites, which will spend the next few weeks making their way out to observation positions some 1.5 million km from Earth on its "night side". The ascent through the Earth's atmosphere was just the first stage in what will be a long journey for the astronomical satellites.
They will spend the next two to three months making their way out to observation positions some 1.5 million km from Earth on its "night side".
The long cruise will allow engineers to check-out sub-systems and commission the telescopes' instruments.The long cruise will allow engineers to check-out sub-systems and commission the telescopes' instruments.
Herschel is the largest telescope anyone has yet tried to put in space. Its 3.5m-diameter primary mirror is one-and-a-half-times the size of Hubble's main reflector.Herschel is the largest telescope anyone has yet tried to put in space. Its 3.5m-diameter primary mirror is one-and-a-half-times the size of Hubble's main reflector.
The telescope will be sensitive to far-infrared and sub-millimetre (radio) wavelengths of light, allowing it to peer through clouds of dust and gas to see stars at the moment they are born.The telescope will be sensitive to far-infrared and sub-millimetre (radio) wavelengths of light, allowing it to peer through clouds of dust and gas to see stars at the moment they are born.
Planck is a survey telescope. It will spin to map the sky at even longer wavelengths of light - in the microwave portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.Planck is a survey telescope. It will spin to map the sky at even longer wavelengths of light - in the microwave portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
It will make the finest ever measurements of what has become known as the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB).It will make the finest ever measurements of what has become known as the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB).
The CMB is the "oldest light" in the Universe. It is all around us and comes from a time 380,000 years after the Big Bang.The CMB is the "oldest light" in the Universe. It is all around us and comes from a time 380,000 years after the Big Bang.
Scientists say there are temperature variations in this ancient heat energy that can give them insights into the early structure of the Universe.Scientists say there are temperature variations in this ancient heat energy that can give them insights into the early structure of the Universe.
Speaking on the eve of the launch, European Space Agency director general Jean-Jacques Dordain paid tribute to effort that brought the 1.9bn-euro observatories to the launch pad.Speaking on the eve of the launch, European Space Agency director general Jean-Jacques Dordain paid tribute to effort that brought the 1.9bn-euro observatories to the launch pad.
"This is the result of many years' hard work by thousands of scientists and engineers across Europe," he told BBC News."This is the result of many years' hard work by thousands of scientists and engineers across Europe," he told BBC News.
"The technology onboard these satellites is unique, and the science these satellites will do is fantastic.""The technology onboard these satellites is unique, and the science these satellites will do is fantastic."
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.ukJonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk