Launch campaign for Planck is now underway

Following the conclusion of the Planck spacecraft test campaign the spacecraft has now been transported to Kourou in French Guiana, where it joins the Herschel spacecraft. In the coming weeks, the two spacecraft will be prepared for a combined launch, planned for 16 April 2009.

The Planck spacecraft left the Centre Spatial de Liege test facilities by convoy in the night of the 17th February to arrive at the Liege airport later that night. From there, departing in the early hours of Wednesday 18 February, it was flown to Rochambeau airport, French Guiana, on board an Antonov cargo airplane, with one intermediate stop in Cape Verde for additional re-fuelling of the airplane.