COROT enters fine-pointing mode (Forwarded)

ESA News
http://www.esa.int

5 February 2007

COROT enters fine-pointing mode

One month after successful launch, and about two weeks after the release
of the first image of the sky, the COROT satellite successfully entered in
'fine pointing' mode.

The fine-pointing configuration was uploaded on 24 January 2007 after the
activation of the seismology channel, and uses the satellite telescope as
a 'super' star sensor. This will allow COROT to precisely target stars and
perform astero-seismologic observations (probing stars interiors).

The optical performances of the seismology channel prove to be excellent,
both in terms of shape and stability of the image spots, with a distortion
incredibly close to the on-ground modelling performed before launch.

Inside the images collected to calibrate the seismology channel, COROT
detected a junk object -- a piece of a Delta 1 rocket launched in 1984.
This has left on the COROT's camera sensors (CCD) a small smear visible in
the middle of the stellar field. The movement of the object inside the CCD
image fits well with the trajectory elements computed on ground.

These and all the delicate operations of verification and in-orbit
calibration of the COROT satellite -- also including a program of
calibrations relative to the instrument line of sight performed from 18 to
23 January -- have been mastered by the satellite teams at CNRS
(Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique
(Observatoire Paris Meudon) and at Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de
Marseille (Observatoire Astronomique de Marseille Provence).

For more information:

Malcolm Fridlund, ESA COROT Project Scientist
Email: malcolm.fridlund @ esa.int

[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMWZB4ENXE_index_1.html ]