The Herschel and Planck telescopes were blasted into space, and at Cardiff, nerves were taking over during the launch live feed. Staff from the University, local media and guests including the Welsh Assemby First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, gathered at the launch event in the School of Physics and Astronomy to watch events unfold. Thirty minutes after lift-off, the crowd clapped and cheered when Herschel and Planck separated and started to make their journey to the L2 point, and later celebrated by sipping some Herschel wine (specially commissioned by ESA for the occasion).
The entire launch sequence went very smoothly to the relief of international team of scientists and engineers who have all put so much work into it.
Check out the BBC news article about the Cardiff launch event here.
