CHEOPS

Characterising Exoplanets Satellite (CHEOPS)
CHEOPS spacecraft
An artist's impression of the CHEOPS space observatory
Mission typeExoplanetology, astrophysics
OperatorSwiss Space Office / ESA
COSPAR ID2019-092B Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.44874
Websitecheops.unibe.ch
sci.esa.int/cheops
Mission duration3.5 years (nominal)
+ 3 years (extended)[1]
Elapsed: 4 years, 6 months and 14 days (in progress)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeSpace observatory
BusSEOSAT[2]
ManufacturerAirbus Defence and Space (Spain)
Launch mass273 kg [3]
Payload mass58 kg [4]
Dimensions1.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in × 4 ft 11 in × 4 ft 11 in)
Power64 watts [5]
Start of mission
Launch date18 December 2019, 08:54:20 UTC[6]
RocketSoyuz-ST-A/Fregat-M (Soyuz VS23) [7][8]
Launch siteCentre Spatial Guyanais, ELS
ContractorArianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit[9]
RegimeSun-synchronous orbit
Perigee altitude712 km (442 mi)
Apogee altitude715 km (444 mi)
Inclination92.80°
Period90.00 minutes
Main telescope
TypeRitchey–Chrétien
frame-transfer back-side illuminated CCD
Diameter32 cm [10]
Focal ratiof/8
Wavelengths330 to 1100 nm
Transponders
Capacity1.2 Gbit/day downlink [11]
Instruments
Photometer[12]
CHEOPS mission logo
CHEOPS mission patch  

CHEOPS (CHaracterising ExOPlanets Satellite) is a European space telescope. Its objective is to determine the size of known extrasolar planets, which will allow the estimation of their mass, density, composition and their formation. Launched on 18 December 2019, it is the first Small-class mission in ESA's Cosmic Vision science programme.[13]

The small satellite features an optical Ritchey–Chrétien telescope with an aperture of 30 cm, mounted on a standard small satellite platform. It was placed into a Sun-synchronous orbit of about 700 km altitude.

  1. ^ "CHEOPS mission extended". Portal. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  2. ^ CHEOPS, EO Portal Directory Accessed on 14 December 2019
  3. ^ "Press Kit VS-23 Launch (in French)" (PDF). Arianespace. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  4. ^ "The CHEOPS Payload: a single telescope". CHEOPS website. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  5. ^ "CHEOPS – Executive Summary". Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference liftoff was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference July2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ CHEOPS has arrived in Kourou 16 October 2019
  9. ^ "VS23 Launch Press Kit" (PDF). Arianespace. December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  10. ^ "CHEOPS – Mission Status & Summary". Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference unibe spacecraft was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference photometer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "Call for Media: Cheops launch to study exoplanets". www.esa.int. Retrieved 13 December 2019.

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