On 13 July, CELESTA will be launched into space: this microsatellite is the first space mission driven by CERN, in collaboration with the University of Montpellier and the European Space Agency (ESA).

The CERN community is warmly invited to tune in for the launch of CELESTA on 13 July at 13:13 CET. Note that the launch requires exceptionally good weather conditions, which might mean that it is delayed by a few days, but the time will not change. The live footage will be made available in CERN restaurants, shared on CERN social media channels and available on ESA’s WebTV and Arianespace’s YouTube channel.

The satellite’s payload is the Space RadMon, an instrument used to monitor radiation effects on electronics, entirely based on off-the-shelf components and calibrated at CERN’s irradiation facilities. The satellite itself has been tested at system level at CHARM, CERN’s mixed-field irradiation facility, showing the potential of this innovative approach for future space missions.

With CELESTA, CERN is seeking to showcase the impact of these technologies and facilities on society, in particular in the aerospace field. Learn more about aerospace applications of CERN technologies here.