CHEOPS

3D Model

CHEOPS (CHaracterising ExOPlanets Satellite) is a European space telescope to determine the size of known extrasolar planets, which will allow the estimation of their mass, density, composition and their formation. Launched on 18 December 2019, it is the first Small-class mission in ESA’s Cosmic Vision science programme.

The small satellite features an optical Ritchey-Chrétien telescope with an aperture of 30 cm, mounted on a standard small satellite platform. It was placed into a Sun-synchronous orbit of about 700 km altitude.