#09: Gaia Flight Model Payload Data Handling Unit Delivered and Integrated 23 May 2013 The Gaia Flight Model Payload Data Handling Unit has been delivered and integrated into the Gaia Service Module. Its arrival allowed extensive end-to-end testing of the spacecraft systems to be performed. Read more
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Gaia is an ambitious mission to chart a three-dimensional map of our Galaxy, the Milky Way, in the process revealing the composition, formation and evolution of the Galaxy. Gaia will provide unprecedented positional and radial velocity measurements with the accuracies needed to produce a stereoscopic and kinematic census of about one billion stars in our Galaxy and throughout the Local Group. This amounts to about 1 per cent of the Galactic stellar population.
Spacecraft Testing
#08: Gaia Flight Model Payload Module thermal testing completed 20 February 2013 Thermal testing of the Gaia flight model payload module was completed at Centre Spatial de Liège. The payload module was then returned to Astrium Toulouse for integration with the service module. Read more
#07: Gaia launcher separation test and Payload Module acceptance vibration tests completed 29 October 2012 Testing of the separation of the Gaia Service Module from its Launch Vehicle Adapter has been completed, as have the acceptance vibration tests on the Payload Module. Read more
#06: Gaia Payload Module integration completed 17 September 2012 Integration of the Flight Model of the Gaia Payload Module has been completed. It has undergone acceptance vibration testing; thermal balance and thermal vacuum testing will be carried out towards the end of this year. Read more
Announcements
Announcement of Opportunity for photometry scientist in the Gaia Science Team 20 March 2013 The Director of Science and Robotic Exploration has released an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for membership in the science team of the Gaia mission. The AO is open to all scientists from institutions located in ESA Member States. The deadline for receipt of proposals is 30 April 2013. Read more
Featured publications
Gaia - ESA's Galactic Census 15 June 2012 ESA Brochure BR-269: An introduction to the Gaia mission. Read more
ESA SP-1323: ESA's Report to the 39th COSPAR Meeting 30 June 2012 The 39th meeting of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) was held 14-22 July 2012 in Mysore, India. This report to COSPAR on the scientific activities of the European Space Agency was written by members of the Directorate of Earth Observation, the Directorate of Human Spaceflight and Operations and the Directorate of Science and Robotic Exploration. Read more
