Europe’s Euclid space telescope is scheduled for launch on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in humanity’s quest to unravel the secrets of the universe. This pioneering mission aims to shed light on two of the greatest cosmic enigmas: dark energy and dark matter. The launch will take place from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 11:12 am local time (1512 GMT), with the assistance of Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its Falcon 9 rocket.
The European Space Agency turned to SpaceX after Russia withdrew its Soyuz rockets in response to sanctions related to the conflict in Ukraine. With the collaboration of SpaceX, the Euclid mission is set to embark on an extraordinary journey through space, joining its companion telescope, James Webb, at the second Lagrange Point—an orbit around 1.5 million kilometres (more than 930,000 miles) from Earth.
Once stationed at this stable hovering spot, Euclid will commence its task of creating the largest-ever map of the universe. This comprehensive map will encompass up to two billion galaxies, spanning over a third of the sky. By capturing light that has travelled for a staggering 10 billion years to reach Earth’s vicinity, Euclid’s map will provide a fresh perspective on the history of the 13.8-billion-year-old universe.
The primary objective of the Euclid’s mission is to address a cosmic puzzle that has intrigued scientists for decades. Despite remarkable advancements in astrophysics, approximately 95 percent of the universe remains shrouded in mystery. It is this vast unknown that Euclid seeks to explore and understand.
Scientists estimate that around 70 percent of the universe is composed of dark energy, an elusive force responsible for the accelerated expansion of the cosmos. Meanwhile, dark matter, comprising approximately 25 percent of the universe, is believed to play a crucial role in holding galaxies together and constituting the majority of the universe’s mass.
The Euclid project manager, Giuseppe Racca, highlights the significance of the mission, describing it as a “cosmic embarrassment” that humanity knows so little about the overwhelming majority of the universe.
“Ever since we could see stars, we’ve wondered, is the universe infinite? What is it made out of? How does it work?” said NASA Euclid project scientist Michael Seiffert in an interview with AFP. These fundamental questions have driven scientists for centuries, and Euclid’s mission is a bold endeavour to find answers.
Through its state-of-the-art instruments and advanced technology, Euclid will collect vast amounts of data that will enable scientists to delve deeper into the nature of dark energy and dark matter. The mission holds the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the universe and reshape fundamental theories in astrophysics.
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As Euclid prepares to embark on its cosmic journey, the scientific community is brimming with anticipation. Researchers from around the world eagerly await the wealth of information and insights that Euclid’s observations will provide. The mission represents a remarkable collaboration between nations, demonstrating the global commitment to unravelling the universe’s mysteries.
In the coming years, scientists will analyze the data collected by Euclid, unlocking the secrets hidden within the vast cosmic web. The discoveries made through this groundbreaking mission will undoubtedly shape our understanding of the universe’s past, present, and future, and pave the way for new frontiers in astrophysics.
As the countdown to launch begins, the world stands at the threshold of a new era of exploration, ready to embark on an extraordinary journey that will illuminate the dark corners of the cosmos and propel our understanding of the universe to new heights.
