Euclid telescope launches on mission to uncover secrets of dark universe
A European space telescope has been launched on a million-mile journey to map the dark universe.
The Euclid space telescope, named after the ancient Greek mathematician, will spend six years venturing through space, observing billions of galaxies as it does so.
It was launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 4.12pm UK time on Saturday, and should take a month to reach its destination – an area in space known as the second Lagrange point.
An artist’s image shows the Euclid space telescope in space. Pic: European Space Agency/Reuters
This is a stable location for the spacecraft as the gravitational forces of the Earth and the sun are roughly equal.
The UK has contributed £37m towards the £850m mission, with scientists playing key roles in designing and building the two-tonne probe and leading on one of the two scientific instruments on board – a visible imager (VIS) that will become one of the largest cameras ever sent into space.
The other instrument is a near infrared spectrometer and photometer, developed in France.
Dr Paul Bate, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “Watching the launch of Euclid, I feel inspired by the years of hard work from thousands of people that go into space science missions, and the fundamental importance of discovery – how we set out to understand and explore the universe.”
Scientists are hoping the mission will shed light on two of the universe’s greatest mysteries: dark energy, which is the name given to the mysterious force causing the rate of expansion of our universe to accelerate over time, and dark matter – particles that do not absorb, reflect or emit light.
According to NASA, roughly 68% of the universe is dark energy, while dark matter makes up about 27%. “The rest – everything on Earth, everything ever observed with all of our instruments, all normal matter – adds up to less than 5% of the universe.”
Euclid is secured on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket
Euclid’s mission aims to scrutinise the dark universe to better understand why it is rapidly expanding.
It will make use of a cosmic phenomenon known as gravitational lensing, where matter acts like a magnifying glass, bending and distorting light from galaxies and clusters behind it, to capture high-quality images.
European Space Agency director general Josef Aschbacher said of Euclid’s successful take-off: “I can tell you the mood is amazing, we have a mission…
“It’s such a happy moment to see this mission now flying to its destination and then of course taking all these measurements of dark energy and dark matter which fascinate us, where we have so many questions that are being answered by this data.”
More than 2,000 scientists across Europe have been involved in the mission, from its design to its construction and analysis.
Assisted dying could become legal in England and Wales after the bill was backed by MPs in a historic vote.
Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill received 330 yes votes compared to 275 noes at its second reading in the House of Commons – a majority of 55.
Politics Live: MPs voting on historic assisted dying legislation
The bill would allow adults who are terminally ill with just six months left to live to request medical assistance to end their lives.
Today’s result means the legislation will now progress to the committee stage for scrutiny, with the Lords also to be given opportunities to express their views on the measure before it potentially becomes law.
MPs were given a free vote – meaning they could side with their conscience and not along party lines, with the government staying neutral on the matter.
The division list showed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer backed the proposal, as did Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
But other cabinet members like Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood voted against the bill, having previously warned about vulnerable people being coerced and of a “slippery slope of death on demand”.
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MPs debate assisted dying
The vote came after a five-hour debate in the chamber, which drew emotional arguments on both sides.
Conservative former minister Andrew Mitchell revealed he changed his mind on assisted dying after finding himself with “tears pouring down my face” on hearing the stories of constituents whose loved ones had died “in great pain and great indignity”.
On the other side of the argument, veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott said assisted dying could result in sick people “feeling like a burden” on society, adding: ” I can imagine myself saying that in particular circumstances.”
She warned: “If this bill passes, we will have the NHS as a fully-funded 100% suicide service but palliative care will only be funded at 30% at best.”
Bill about ‘choice and dignity’
Opening the debate on the topic, Labour backbencher Ms Leadbeater said the bill was about giving dying people “choice, autonomy, and dignity” – saying the current law was “failing” them.
Kim Leadbeater: PA
Read More:
Two people reveal contrasting views on assisted dying
Five stories that bring the assisted dying debate home
She has insisted her bill contains “the most robust safeguards” of any assisted dying legislation in the word.
This includes two independent doctors having to approve the decision, followed by a high-court judge, with the person having to administer the drugs themselves.
The legislation also includes a maximum 14-year prison sentence for anyone who coerces someone into requesting assisted dying or taking the medicine.
Speaking to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby after the vote, an emotional Ms Leadbeater said she was “incredibly proud” of the result and parliament must now “take on board everything that’s been discussed in the chamber”, including the state of palliative care and the rights of disabled people.
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