Herschel Mission Overview

Abstract

Here we describe the historical evolution of the FIRST/Herschel Cornerstone within the framework of ESA’s Horizon 2000 plan, from the initial concept proposed by the scientific community in November 1982 through the various studies, the industrial development, the launch and operations and the post-operations phase which ended in mid-2017. It illustrates the effect of the design-to-cost approach on the technical and managerial developments of Herschel over the more than three decades of the project. The chapter details the long series of challenges faced by the scientists, ESA and its member states and industry in the face of several crises and of many technological, managerial and political difficulties. Eventually these were overcome through innovation in technology and technical and financial management , preserving the scientific excellence of the mission. The chapter also emphasises the consequence of the combination of the Herschel and Planck missions within a single industrial project, launched together, on the overall final cost, somewhat lower than the total allocation set in the original Horizon 2000 plan for these two missions.

Appendices

Appendix 1

3.1.1 A.1.1 FIRST Assessment Study Team

• J. Delanoy, Institut de Radio Astronomie Millimetrique (IRAM ), St. Martin d’Héres (F)

• R.D. Joseph, Imperial College London, London (UK)

• E. Kollberg, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg (S)

• G.F. Winnewisser , Physikalisches Institut, Cologne (D)

Assisted by

• J. Baars, Bonn (D), D. Lemke, Heidelberg (D), S. Lidholm, Cork (EI), A. Moorwood, Garching (D), N. Panagia, Bologna (I), P. Salinari, Florence (I), B. Vowinkel, Cologne (D), M. Walmsley, Bonn (D), G. White, London (UK)

ESA/ESTEC personnel:

• Th. de Graauw Study Scientist assisted by M. Kessler

Appendix 2

3.1.1 A.2.1 FIRST System Definition and Rider Study Teams

3.1.1.1 A.2.1.1 Science Advisory Group

• R. Genzel (Chairman), MPI für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching (D)

• E. van Dishoeck, Sterrenwacht Leiden, Leiden (NL) (from 1992)

• D. Downes, Institut de Radio Astronomie Millimétrique, St. Martin d’Héres (F) (until 1991)

• P. Encrenaz, Observatoire de Paris , Meudon (F)

• R. Hills, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge (UK)

• T. de Jong, SRON , Groningen (NL)

• E. Kollberg, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg (S)

• J. Martin-Pintado, Centro Astronomico de Yebes, Guadalajara (E)

• V. Natale, CAISMI-CNR, Firenze (I)

• J-L. Puget, Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale, Université Paris XI, Orsay (F) (from 1992)

• J.- P. Swings, Institut d’Astrophysique, Université de Liège, Liège (B) (until 1991)

3.1.1.2 A.2.1.2 Tiger Team

• P. Encrenaz (Chairman), Observatoire de Paris , Meudon (F)

• J. Baars, MPI für Radioastronomie, Bonn (D)

• M. Griffin , Queen Mary & Westfield College, London (UK)

• A. Harris, MPI für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching (D)

• E. Kollberg, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg (S)

• J-M. Lamarre, Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale, Université Paris XI, Orsay (F)

• N. Whyborn, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg (S)

3.1.1.3 A.2.1.3 Payload Working Group

• I. Furniss, University College London, London (UK)

• E. Kollberg, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg (S)

• E. Kreysa, MPI für Radioastronomie, Bonn (D)

• A. Poglitsch , MPI für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching (D)

• G. Serra, CESR -CNRS/UPS, Toulouse (F)

• G. White, Queen Mary & Westfield College, London (UK)

• J. Wijnbergen, SRON , Groningen (D)

• P. Zimrnermann, Physikalisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, Köln (D)

3.1.1.4 A.2.1.4 Telescope Working Group

• J. Baars, MPI für Radioastronomie, Bonn (D)

• J.-M. Lamarre, Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale, Université Paris XI, Orsay (F)

• D. Plathner, Institut de Radio Astronomie Millimétrique, St. Martin d’Héres (F)

3.1.1.5 A.2.1.5 ESA Personnel

• U. Frisk/G. Pilbratt , Study Scientist (ESTEC ) for SDS/RS, respectively

• J.W. Cornelisse, Study Manager (ESTEC )

• S. Volonte , Astronomy Missions Coordinator (HQ)

Appendix 3

3.1.1 A.3.1 FIRST/Planck

3.1.1.1 A.3.1.1 Tiger Team

• C. Lawrence, Jet Propulsion Laboratory , Pasadena CA (USA )

• B. Gray, Jet Propulsion Laboratory , Pasadena CA (USA )

• R. Genzel , MPI für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching (D)

• A. Poglitsch , MPI für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching (D)

• H.U. Norgaard-Nielsen, Danish Space Research Institute, Copenhagen (DK)

• J.M. Lamarre, Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale, Université de Paris XI, Orsay (F)

• J.L. Puget, Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale, Université de Paris XI, Orsay (F)

• M. Bersanelli, Universita’ degli Studi di Milano, Milano (I)

• N. Mandolesi, Istituto Tesre-CNR, Bologna (I)

• M. Griffin , Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London, London (UK)

• R. Hills, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge (UK)

• Th. de Graauw , SRON , Groningen (NL)

3.1.1.2 A.3.1.2 ESA/ESTEC Personnel

• G. Pilbratt , FIRST Study Scientist

• J. Tauber, Planck Study Scientist

• J. Steinz, F. Felici and T. Passvogel , project team

Appendix 4

3.1.1 A.4.1 Herschel Science Team

3.1.1.1 A.4.1.1 Instrument Teams

• Th. de Graauw , succeeded in 2008 by F. Helmich, SRON , Groningen (NL), HIFI PI

• T.G. Phillips, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena CA (USA ), HIFI Co-PI

• A. Poglitsch , succeeded in 2014 by E.Sturm, MPI für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching (D), PACS PI

• C. Waelkens, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven (B), PACS Co-PI

• M. Griffin , initially at Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London, and subsequently at Cardiff University (UK), SPIRE PI

• L. Vigroux , Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris, Paris (F), SPIRE Co-PI

3.1.1.2 A.4.1.2 Mission Scientists

• P.D. Bartel, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen (NL)

• J. Cernicharo, CSIC, Inst de Estructura de la Materia, Madrid (E)

• P. Encrenaz, Observatoire de Paris , Meudon (F)

• P.M. Harvey, Department of Astronomy, University of Texas, Austin TX (USA )

• M. Harwit, 511 H Street, Washington DC (USA )

3.1.1.3 A.4.1.3 Optical System Scientist (from 2001)

• J. Fischer (from 2001), Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC (USA )

3.1.1.4 A.4.1.4 ESA Personnel

• G. Pilbratt , Project Scientist, chairman

• T. Passvogel , Project Manager, succeeded in 2002 by G. Crone

• G. Crone, Payload Manager, succeeded in 2009 by J. R. Riedinger

• J. R. Riedinger, Mission Manager, succeeded in 2012 by L. Metcalfe, succeeded in 2014 by P. García-Lario

In addition, personnel from the Herschel Science Centre , the NASA Herschel Science Center and NASA Herschel Project and Programme Scientists were invited to HST meetings for particular purposes.

The number of names quoted in the appendixes above is enormous, and they reflect the tremendous efforts provided by the scientific community to cooperate and help inventing one of the most impressive space missions ever invented in Europe. They could not be listed in the Acknowledgements at the beginning of the book, but the authors of the book admire and command all of them for their essential contributions to Herschel.