PACS

Short Description:

PACS is one of three science instruments for ESA's Herschel Space Observatory (HSO). It operates either as an imaging photometer or an integral field spectrometer over the spectral band from 57 to 210 µm.  PACS has been designed and built by a consortium of institutes and university departments from across Europe under the leadership of MPE.

Projekt Type:

Instrument for satellite

MPE Contribution:

PACS detector development and whole instrument

Status:

satellite launch:  2009 May 14

actual status:     the orbit around Lagrange Point L2 will be changed to
                          an orbit around the Sun (to free space at L2)

end of mission:  2013 April  29
                          the liquid Helium to cool the detectors was exhausted.
                          This determines the end of the scientific mission.