European telescope "Gaia" can be started after 17 December - Reuters

© Photo: ESA

MOSCOW, Oct. 23 – RIA Novosti. Delayed Start a new European Space Telescope, “Gaia” is associated with an increased risk of degradation of some electronic circuit apparatus, the probe can be launched after December 17, told RIA Novosti Thomas Passfogel (Thomas Passvogel), head of the project management department of scientific and automatic missions of the European Space Agency (ESA).

launch Russian rocket “Soyuz-2.1b” with a telescope “Gaia” from Kourou, French Guiana, previously scheduled for November 20. However, on the eve of launch site operator, the company Arianespace announced that the launch is delayed because of the need for additional testing of scientific equipment.

“We need more testing equipment, and, possibly, his replacement, it will not take much time. Next opportunity to run open after December 17,” – said Passfogel. He explained that the unit operates properly, however, the risk of failure of some electronic circuits after the launch, while working in orbit.

“This is part of the electronic circuits in the digital portion of the transponder (a device for data transfer.) They may be subject to degradation over time after the start of operation in orbit. We want to be sure that will not be degraded and decided to replace the equipment to spare” – he added.

He explained that the potential problem associated with one of the components of the internal clock of the transmitter. “All the rest of the equipment on board the” Gaia “OK, we do not have any problems with the device now, but there is a risk of potential degradation in the course of the unit. No problem with the” Union “and no” – added Passfogel.

Telescope “Gaia” (Gaia, Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics) is designed for high-precision measurements of the positions and velocities billion stars in our galaxy and the creation of a new star catalog and three-dimensional galactic map. This, in particular, will test the hypothesis that the Milky Way emerged at the confluence of many smaller galaxies.