European Space Agency Flickr Update

Gaia scanning the sky

27-06-2013 02:34 PM CEST

This animation shows the Gaia spacecraft spinning in space scanning the sky.
Gaia's mission relies on the systematic and repeating observation of star positions in two fields of view. As the detectors repeatedly measure the position of each celestial object, they will detect any changes in the object's motion through space.

 To achieve its mission the spacecraft is spinning slowly, sweeping its two telescopes across the entire celestial sphere to make four complete rotations per day.
Gaia's telescopes point at two different portions of the sky, separated by a constant 106.5°. Therefore, objects arrive in the second field of view 106.5 minutes after they are observed in the first.

Meanwhile its spin axis precesses around the Sun with a period of about 63 days, allowing different parts of the sky to be scanned. This scanning strategy builds up an interlocking grid of positions, providing absolute – rather than relative – values of the stellar positions and motions.
The spacecraft spin axis makes an angle of 45° with the Sun direction, ensuring that the payload is shaded from the Sun, but that the solar arrays can still produce electricity efficiently.

Credits: ESA-C.Carreau

Moon-set seen from the ISS

27-06-2013 10:36 AM CEST

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano snapped this view of moon-set from his privileged position on the International Space Station.

Luca is onboard the orbital outpost as part of ESA's long duration mission, Volare.

If you would like to see more of his images, please visit his dedicated Flickr photostream: Volare Mission.

Credits: ESA/NASA