Launch

EXPLORATORY PHASE /

THE LAUNCH

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Watch the launch again!

THE LAUNCH

TO THE DARK UNIVERSE

On July 1st, 2023, at 5:12 PM (Italian time), the Euclid spacecraft embarked on its journey from Cape Canaveral on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Launch: July 1st, 2023

Site: Cape Canaveral, Florida

Carrier: Falcon 9 SpaceX

PILLOLE DI EUCLID

Rivedi il lancio

Lancio: Luglio 2023

Base: Cape Canaveral, Florida

Razzo: Space X Falcon

ROADMAP

Rectangle 46-3
2013-2022
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION

ESA appoints Thales Alenia Space as the main contractor for the development of Euclid, with the support of over 120 European companies. The design is approved in 2016.

Il satellite Euclid salpa da Savona
04/2023
EUCLID SAILS FROM THE PORT OF SAVONA

On board this ship is Euclid, the ESA satellite that will explore the dark side of the Universe. The vessel departed from Savona on April 17th, 2023 headed to Cape Canaveral, where it will launch into space in July.

Euclid on the road
05/2023
Euclid on the road
The spacecraft starts its journey along the Space Coast towards the launch base after landing in Florida.
Laboratori Astrotech
05/2023
ARRIVAL AT THE LAUNCH SITE
After crossing the Atlantic, Euclid is now in Cape Canaveral's Astrotech laboratories where the final pre-launch tests will occur.
Laboratorio Esa per le simulazioni di collaudo
05/2023
TEST SIMULATIONS
Euclid test simulations have begun at ESA's Mission Control Centre. Immediately after launch - and for about 30 days - the satellite and scientific instruments will undergo numerous tests to check that everything is working. In those 30 days, Euclid will reach the L2 orbit: 1.5 million kilometres away from the Earth, from which, for 6 years, it will observe the deep Universe. The Mission Control Center will take charge of Euclid a few seconds after launch and, throughout its operational life, will take care of making it work, monitoring its state of health. The exciting countdown that traditionally accompanies the start of space missions will start from the main control room.
Euclid_encapsulated_in_Falcon_9_fairing_pillars
06/2023
READY TO GO
On 27 June 2023, ESA's Euclid Space Telescope was encapsulated in a SpaceX Falcon 9 fairing, which will keep Euclid safe and clean during the final days before liftoff and protect the spacecraft from Earth's atmosphere during launch.
Euclid_lancio
01/07/2023
The Launch
Lift-off! Euclid is on its way to its operational orbit. The Consortium is overjoyed by this major milestone.
07/2023
First Images
Uncalibrated images from Vis and Nisp are already thrilling scientists, revealing a window onto thousands of galaxies. This is just the beginning of Euclid's amazing discoveries!
Rectangle 46-3
2013-2022
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION
ESA appoints Thales Alenia Space as the main contractor for the development of Euclid, with the support of over 120 European companies. The design is approved in 2016.
Il satellite Euclid salpa da Savona
04/2023
EUCLID SAILS FROM THE PORT OF SAVONA
On board this ship is Euclid, the ESA satellite that will explore the dark side of the Universe. The vessel departed from Savona on April 17th, 2023 headed to Cape Canaveral, where it will launch into space in July.
Euclid on the road
05/2023
Euclid on the road
The spacecraft starts its journey along the Space Coast towards the launch base after landing in Florida.
Laboratori Astrotech
05/2023
ARRIVAL AT THE LAUNCH SITE
After crossing the Atlantic, Euclid is now in Cape Canaveral's Astrotech laboratories where the final pre-launch tests will occur.
Laboratorio Esa per le simulazioni di collaudo
05/2023
TEST SIMULATIONS
Euclid test simulations have begun at ESA's Mission Control Centre. Immediately after launch - and for about 30 days - the satellite and scientific instruments will undergo numerous tests to check that everything is working. In those 30 days, Euclid will reach the L2 orbit: 1.5 million kilometres away from the Earth, from which, for 6 years, it will observe the deep Universe. The Mission Control Center will take charge of Euclid a few seconds after launch and, throughout its operational life, will take care of making it work, monitoring its state of health. The exciting countdown that traditionally accompanies the start of space missions will start from the main control room.            
Euclid_encapsulated_in_Falcon_9_fairing_pillars
06/2023
READY TO GO
On 27 June 2023, ESA's Euclid Space Telescope was encapsulated in a SpaceX Falcon 9 fairing, which will keep Euclid safe and clean during the final days before liftoff and protect the spacecraft from Earth's atmosphere during launch.
Euclid_lancio
01/07/2023
THE LAUNCH

Lift-off! Euclid is on its way to its operational orbit. The Consortium is overjoyed by this major milestone.

Euclid_immagine
07/2023
FIRST IMAGES
Uncalibrated images from Vis and Nisp are already thrilling scientists, revealing a window onto thousands of galaxies. This is just the beginning of Euclid's amazing discoveries!

LANCIO

Euclid launched on July 1, 2023, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft 1,5 milioni di km 1.5 million km and successfully arrived Lagrangian L2 orbit in four weeks.

In orbit, Euclid will map over a billion galaxies for a cosmic time of 10 billion years, or more than 75% of the age of the Universe.

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