A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Euclid space telescope from Cape Canaveral Space Station in Florida at 17:12 CEST on July 1. This mission aims to study the dark universe, or more specifically dark matter and dark energy. To date, researchers have not yet been able to detect either of them directly, only inferring their presence from the effects they have on the universe at large.
To achieve this, Euclid will create a 3D-map of the universe, with the third dimension representing time itself. Scientists will be able to chart the position and velocity of galaxies over immense distances and through most of cosmic history, and trace the way the universe has expanded by observing billions of galaxies out to a distance of 10 billion light-years. This data should let astronomers infer the properties of dark energy and dark matter more precisely than ever before.
- LEGO NASA Space Set - This adult LEGO set features the Space Shuttle Discovery and the Hubble Space Telescope from NASA’s 1990 STS-31 mission,...
- Solar System Exploration - Unlock the mysteries of our solar system with this engaging 2,354-piece project, packed with authentic details and...
- Shuttle Features Galore - The space shuttle model has an opening payload bay, retractable landing gear, opening cockpit, moving elevons, space arm,...
This is a great moment for science, one that we have long been looking forward to: the launch of Euclid, on a mission to decipher the puzzle of dark matter and dark energy. The big mystery of the fundamental constituents of the Universe is staring us in the face, offering a formidable challenge. Thanks to its advanced telescope and powerful scientific instrumentation, Euclid is poised to help us unravel this mystery,” said René Laureijs, ESA’s Euclid Project Scientist.
