Facts & Figures

Elliptical primary mirror: 1.1 x 0.7 metres
Mission lifetime: at least 4 years in orbit 
Payload mass / launch mass: ~500 kg / ~ 1500kg
Instrumentation: 3 photometric channels and 3 spectrometers covering continuously from 0.5 to 7.8 microns in wavelength
Launch date: 2029
Destination: Sun – Earth Lagrange Point 2 (L2)
Launch vehicle: Ariane 6-2. Launch shared with Comet Interceptor.

The Ariel mission payload is developed by a consortium of more than 50 institutes from 16 ESA countries – which include the UK, France, Italy, Poland, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary, Portugal, Estonia. NASA, JAXA, CSA contributions have been confirmed.