# Euclid

> ESA space telescope aimed at mapping the distribution of dark matter

**Wikidata**: [Q578497](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q578497)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euclid_(spacecraft))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/euclid-q578497

## Summary  
Euclid is a European Space Agency (ESA) space telescope launched on 1 July 2023 to map the distribution of dark matter and study the geometry of the Universe. Operating from a halo orbit around the Sun‑Earth L2 point, it combines visible‑light imaging and near‑infrared spectroscopy to measure the large‑scale structure of the cosmos.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 1 July 2023 (15:12 UTC) on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket (B1080.2).  
- **Mission purpose:** Cosmology – mapping dark matter and dark energy distribution.  
- **Mass at launch:** 2 160 kg (launch weight).  
- **Dimensions:** Length 4.7 m; diameter 3.7 m; primary aperture 1.2 m.  
- **Orbit:** Halo orbit around the Sun‑Earth L2 point.  
- **Operator:** European Space Operations Centre (spacecraft), European Space Astronomy Centre (ground segment), Euclid Consortium (data analysis).  
- **Part of:** ESA’s Cosmic Vision programme.  
- **Cost:** ≈ €1.4 billion (2023 estimate).  
- **Manufacturers:** Thales Alenia Space (service module), Airbus Defence and Space (telescope), Beyond Gravity and OHB SE (sub‑systems).  
- **Website:** https://www.esa.int/euclid (primary English site).  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is the Euclid telescope?  
A: Euclid is an ESA‑operated space telescope launched in July 2023 to create the most detailed map of dark matter and dark energy by surveying billions of galaxies across the sky.  

### Q: How does Euclid study dark matter?  
A: It measures the shapes and distances of galaxies using visible‑light imaging and near‑infrared spectroscopy, allowing scientists to infer the gravitational influence of dark matter on large‑scale structures.  

### Q: Where is Euclid located?  
A: After launch, Euclid was placed in a halo orbit around the Sun‑Earth L2 Lagrange point, providing a stable, thermally quiet environment for its observations.  

### Q: Who built Euclid?  
A: The spacecraft’s service module was built by Thales Alenia Space, the Korsch telescope by Airbus Defence and Space, with additional subsystems from Beyond Gravity and OHB SE.  

### Q: When will Euclid’s data become publicly available?  
A: Euclid entered service in 2023; its data will be released to the scientific community and the public according to the mission’s data‑release schedule, beginning a few years after operations commence.  

## Why It Matters  
Euclid tackles one of the most profound questions in modern physics: the nature of dark matter and dark energy, which together comprise about 95 % of the Universe’s total mass‑energy budget. By charting the three‑dimensional distribution of billions of galaxies, Euclid will test competing cosmological models, refine measurements of the Universe’s expansion rate, and potentially reveal new physics beyond the Standard Model. Its high‑precision imaging and spectroscopy complement ground‑based surveys, offering an unprecedented, space‑based view free from atmospheric distortion. The mission’s findings will shape our understanding of cosmic evolution, inform future astrophysical missions, and provide a legacy dataset for generations of researchers. Moreover, Euclid demonstrates international collaboration, leveraging European industry, the Euclid Consortium, and launch services from SpaceX, showcasing how large‑scale scientific endeavors can be realized through coordinated global effort.

## Notable For  
- First ESA mission dedicated to a comprehensive dark‑matter and dark‑energy survey.  
- Utilises a Korsch telescope design with a 1.2 m aperture, optimized for wide‑field, high‑resolution imaging.  
- Operates from the Sun‑Earth L2 halo orbit, offering a thermally stable platform with continuous sky access.  
- Represents a €1.4 billion investment, one of the most expensive European space science missions to date.  
- Built through a multi‑partner European industrial consortium, highlighting cross‑border collaboration in space technology.

## Body  

### Overview  
Euclid (also known as the Dark Universe Explorer, DUNE, and Spectroscopic All‑Sky Cosmic Explorer) is a space telescope launched by ESA on 1 July 2023. It is part of the Cosmic Vision programme and follows the Solar Orbiter mission. The spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 aboard a Falcon 9 Block 5 (B1080.2) provided by SpaceX.

### Mission Objectives  
- **Map dark matter:** Infer the distribution of dark matter by measuring weak gravitational lensing of distant galaxies.  
- **Probe dark energy:** Determine the expansion history of the Universe through baryon acoustic oscillations and redshift‑space distortions.  
- **Create a legacy catalogue:** Observe up to 1.5 billion galaxies over 15 000 deg² in visible and near‑infrared bands.

### Technical Specifications  

| Parameter | Value | Source |
|-----------|-------|--------|
| **Mass (launch)** | 2 160 kg | launch weight |
| **Length** | 4.7 m | NASA Spaceflight |
| **Diameter** | 3.7 m | NASA Spaceflight |
| **Primary aperture** | 1.2 m | NASA NSSDCA |
| **Telescope type** | Korsch telescope (space telescope) | Wikidata |
| **Power** | Solar array, 1 800 W | NASA Spaceflight |
| **Orbit** | Halo orbit, L2 (Earth‑Sun) | ESA fact sheet |
| **Operator** | European Space Operations Centre (spacecraft), European Space Astronomy Centre (ground), Euclid Consortium (data) | ESA fact sheet |
| **Cost** | €1.4 billion (2023) | NASA Spaceflight |
| **Manufacturers** | Thales Alenia Space (service module), Airbus Defence & Space (telescope), Beyond Gravity, OHB SE | Press releases |

### Launch and Operations  
- **Launch contractor:** SpaceX.  
- **Launch vehicle:** Falcon 9 Block 5, serial B1080.2.  
- **Start point:** Cape Canaveral SLC‑40.  
- **Service entry:** 2023 (no earlier than).  
- **Ground segment:** Managed by the European Space Astronomy Centre; data processing performed by the Euclid Consortium.

### Partnerships and Consortium  
The Euclid Consortium comprises over 1 200 scientists from 100+ institutions across Europe and beyond. It is responsible for instrument development, data processing, and scientific analysis. The mission’s data will be archived at ESA’s science archives and made available to the global community.

### Related Missions  
- **Preceded by:** Solar Orbiter (ESA solar probe).  
- **Followed by:** Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE), a joint ESA‑Chinese mission.

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## References

1. [Source](https://www.euclid-ec.org/?page_id=2540)
2. [Source](https://sci.esa.int/web/euclid/-/fact-sheet)
3. [Source](https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/space/press_release/euclid-european-scientific-satellite-successfully-launched)
4. [Source](https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2019-11-airbus-built-telescope-for-esas-euclid-mission-takes-shape)
5. [Source](https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/07/euclid-launch/)
6. [Source](https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/science/Euclid-LaunchKit.pdf)
7. Jonathan's Space Report
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. [Source](https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/04/euclid-integration-milestone/)
10. [Source](https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/euclid)
11. [Source](https://spacenews.com/esa-moves-two-missions-to-falcon-9/)
12. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=EUCLID)
13. [Source](http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=46676&fbodylongid=2158)