Europe launches satellite search for extrasolar planets

CHEOPS satellite is like a telescope, designed to measure the thickness, structure and size of many planets outside the Solar System.

On December 18, a satellite looking for extrasolar planets called CHEOPS was launched into space after being delayed at the last minute a day earlier because the rocket had a technical problem.

Soyuz boosters carrying CHEOPS satellites leave the launch pad at the Guiana Space Center in Kourou.(Source: ESA).

According to a live footage made by Arianespace, the Soyuz rocket with CHEOPS satellite was launched at 8:54 am GMT (15:54 am Vietnam time) at an outdoor launch pad at the Space Center. Guiana in Kourou, French territory.

CHEOPS satellite is like a telescope, designed to measure the thickness, structure and size of many planets outside the solar system.

According to the European Space Agency (ESA), the CHEOPS satellite is also responsible for observing the bright stars known as planets in the universe. These are important tasks from which scientists can answer long-standing questions about the conditions necessary for extraterrestrial life, as well as find the origin of the Earth.

The CHEOPS satellite will operate in orbit about 700km from Earth.

Scientists estimate there are at least nearly 100 billion galaxies as well as stars in the universe. According to ESA Science Director Guenther Hasinger, the goal of the CHEOPS satellite is to draw a complete picture of planets outside the solar system.