Finnish technology launched into Space
AOES MedialabEuropean Space Agency (ESA) launched its Planck-satellite into the space in May. The purpose of the satellite is to investigate some of the unsolved mysteries of the universe with the most sensitive radio technology.
Two radio receivers were attached to the Planck-satellite. Components for one of them, which measures lower frequencies were manufactured with the expertise of Finnish researchers. The process of developing the world’s most sensitive radio receiver was supervised by Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) and MilliLab of the Helsinki University of Technology in co-operation with university departments.
- The high demands for our work ensured that we gained a lot of new knowledge and expertise, which can be utilized for other applications later on, states the Head of Technology at the Technical Research Centre of Finland, Jussi Tuovinen.
The satellite, which was launched to a distance of 1,5 million kilometres will travel for the next three months until it orbits L2, where the gravity of the Earth and the Sun are equal. In those conditions Planck will be able to maintain a fixed position in relation to both planets. The first measurements will be accessible in 18 months.
The Finnish contribution to the Planck instruments and technology deliveries is nearly 15 million Euros.
