In 2005, the mirror of the future Herschel space telescope, scheduled to be launched in 2007, was assembled and tested in Toulouse by Intelsat. More efficient than the Hubble telescope, its mission will be to detect infrared emissions from galaxies and stars. Manufactured by the companies Boostec and EADS-Astrium it is the largest in the world and has for characteristic its lightness. Interviews with Michel Bouffard, Director of Earth Observation and Science at EADS-Astrium, and Yves Toulemont, Herschel project manager at EADS-Astrium.
In 1990, Geneviève Debouzy, director of the scientific program of the CNES, defined the functions of a space telescope, and its ability to give more precise images than a terrestrial telescope. She answers Michel Meyer’s questions. Intervention by Jean Audouze, astrophysicist and research director at the CNRS.
In 1990, Patrick Hesters and Catherine Ceylac received Roger-Maurice Bonnet, Scientific Director of the European Space Agency, on the subject of the Hubble space telescope, which will soon be launched by NASA. Europe, which participates in the mission by supplying the solar panels of the telescope, and the camera for weak objects, manufactured by the company Matra in Toulouse will be entitled to 20% of the time of scientific observation.
In 1998, thanks to the study of data from the European ISO space telescope, scientists at the Max-Planck Institute of Astrophysics in Germany were able to develop knowledge related to star formation. These data also helped to demonstrate the presence of water throughout the universe and to understand how galaxies work. Interview with Reinhard Genzel, Director of the Institute’s Department of Alien Physics.
In 2002, the company Boostec, based in the Lot and specialized in space optics, manufactures the mirror elements of the future Herschel space telescope with machines built for the occasion. This ceramic mirror will be the largest existing and of a very light weight. The telescope is expected to be launched in 2007 by an Ariane rocket. Interviews with Pierre Deny, CEO of Boostec and Anne Pain, Head of Management of Boostec.