The Gaia mission | Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A) (original) (raw)

A&A 595, A1 (2016)

T. Prusti1⋆⋆, J. H. J. de Bruijne1, A. G. A. Brown2, A. Vallenari3, C. Babusiaux4, C. A. L. Bailer-Jones5, U. Bastian6, M. Biermann6, D. W. Evans7, L. Eyer8, F. Jansen9, C. Jordi10, S. A. Klioner11, U. Lammers12, L. Lindegren13, X. Luri10, F. Mignard14, D. J. Milligan15, C. Panem16, V. Poinsignon17, D. Pourbaix18,19, S. Randich20, G. Sarri21, P. Sartoretti4, H. I. Siddiqui22, C. Soubiran23, V. Valette16, F. van Leeuwen7, N. A. Walton7, C. Aerts24,25, F. Arenou4, M. Cropper26, R. Drimmel27, E. Høg28, D. Katz4, M. G. Lattanzi27, W. O’Mullane12, E. K. Grebel6, A. D. Holland29, C. Huc16, X. Passot16, L. Bramante30, C. Cacciari31, J. Castañeda10, L. Chaoul16, N. Cheek32, F. De Angeli7, C. Fabricius10, R. Guerra12, J. Hernández12, A. Jean-Antoine-Piccolo16, E. Masana10, R. Messineo30, N. Mowlavi8, K. Nienartowicz33, D. Ordóñez-Blanco33, P. Panuzzo4, J. Portell10, P. J. Richards34, M. Riello7, G. M. Seabroke26, P. Tanga14, F. Thévenin14, J. Torra10, S. G. Els35,6, G. Gracia-Abril35,10, G. Comoretto22, M. Garcia-Reinaldos12, T. Lock12, E. Mercier35,6, M. Altmann6,36, R. Andrae5, T. L. Astraatmadja5, I. Bellas-Velidis37, K. Benson26, J. Berthier38, R. Blomme39, G. Busso7, B. Carry14,38, A. Cellino27, G. Clementini31, S. Cowell7, O. Creevey14,40, J. Cuypers39, M. Davidson41, J. De Ridder24, A. de Torres42, L. Delchambre43, A. Dell’Oro20, C. Ducourant23, Y. Frémat39, M. García-Torres44, E. Gosset43,19, J.-L. Halbwachs45, N. C. Hambly41, D. L. Harrison7,46, M. Hauser6, D. Hestroffer38, S. T. Hodgkin7, H. E. Huckle26, A. Hutton47, G. Jasniewicz48, S. Jordan6, M. Kontizas49, A. J. Korn50, A. C. Lanzafame51,52, M. Manteiga53, A. Moitinho54, K. Muinonen55,56, J. Osinde57, E. Pancino20,58, T. Pauwels39, J.-M. Petit59, A. Recio-Blanco14, A. C. Robin59, L. M. Sarro60, C. Siopis18, M. Smith26, K. W. Smith5, A. Sozzetti27, W. Thuillot38, W. van Reeven47, Y. Viala4, U. Abbas27, A. Abreu Aramburu61, S. Accart62, J. J. Aguado60, P. M. Allan34, W. Allasia63, G. Altavilla31, M. A. Álvarez53, J. Alves64, R. I. Anderson65,8, A. H. Andrei66,67,36, E. Anglada Varela57,32, E. Antiche10, T. Antoja1, S. Antón68,69, B. Arcay53, A. Atzei21, L. Ayache70, N. Bach47, S. G. Baker26, L. Balaguer-Núñez10, C. Barache36, C. Barata54, A. Barbier62, F. Barblan8, M. Baroni21, D. Barrado y Navascués71, M. Barros54, M. A. Barstow72, U. Becciani52, M. Bellazzini31, G. Bellei73, A. Bello García74, V. Belokurov7, P. Bendjoya14, A. Berihuete75, L. Bianchi63, O. Bienaymé45, F. Billebaud23, N. Blagorodnova7, S. Blanco-Cuaresma8,23, T. Boch45, A. Bombrun42, R. Borrachero10, S. Bouquillon36, G. Bourda23, H. Bouy71, A. Bragaglia31, M. A. Breddels76, N. Brouillet23, T. Brüsemeister6, B. Bucciarelli27, F. Budnik15, P. Burgess7, R. Burgon29, A. Burlacu16, D. Busonero27, R. Buzzi27, E. Caffau4, J. Cambras77, H. Campbell7, R. Cancelliere78, T. Cantat-Gaudin3, T. Carlucci36, J. M. Carrasco10, M. Castellani79, P. Charlot23, J. Charnas33, P. Charvet17, F. Chassat17, A. Chiavassa14, M. Clotet10, G. Cocozza31, R. S. Collins41, P. Collins15, G. Costigan2, F. Crifo4, N. J. G. Cross41, M. Crosta27, C. Crowley42, C. Dafonte53, Y. Damerdji43,80, A. Dapergolas37, P. David38, M. David81, P. De Cat39, F. de Felice82, P. de Laverny14, F. De Luise83, R. De March30, D. de Martino84, R. de Souza85, J. Debosscher24, E. del Pozo47, M. Delbo14, A. Delgado7, H. E. Delgado60, F. di Marco86, P. Di Matteo4, S. Diakite59, E. Distefano52, C. Dolding26, S. Dos Anjos85, P. Drazinos49, J. Durán57, Y. Dzigan87,88, E. Ecale17, B. Edvardsson50, H. Enke89, M. Erdmann21, D. Escolar21, M. Espina15, N. W. Evans7, G. Eynard Bontemps62, C. Fabre90, M. Fabrizio58,83, S. Faigler91, A. J. Falcão92, M. Farràs Casas10, F. Faye17, L. Federici31, G. Fedorets55, J. Fernández-Hernández32, P. Fernique45, A. Fienga93, F. Figueras10, F. Filippi30, K. Findeisen4, A. Fonti30, M. Fouesneau5, E. Fraile94, M. Fraser7, J. Fuchs95, R. Furnell21, M. Gai27, S. Galleti31, L. Galluccio14, D. Garabato53, F. García-Sedano60, P. Garé21, A. Garofalo31, N. Garralda10, P. Gavras4,37,49, J. Gerssen89, R. Geyer11, G. Gilmore7, S. Girona96, G. Giuffrida58, M. Gomes54, A. González-Marcos97, J. González-Núñez32,98, J. J. González-Vidal10, M. Granvik55, A. Guerrier62, P. Guillout45, J. Guiraud16, A. Gúrpide10, R. Gutiérrez-Sánchez22, L. P. Guy33, R. Haigron4, D. Hatzidimitriou49, M. Haywood4, U. Heiter50, A. Helmi76, D. Hobbs13, W. Hofmann6, B. Holl8, G. Holland7, J. A. S. Hunt26, A. Hypki2, V. Icardi30, M. Irwin7, G. Jevardat de Fombelle33, P. Jofré7,23, P. G. Jonker99,25, A. Jorissen18, F. Julbe10, A. Karampelas49,37, A. Kochoska100, R. Kohley12, K. Kolenberg101,24,102, E. Kontizas37, S. E. Koposov7, G. Kordopatis89,14, P. Koubsky95, A. Kowalczyk15, A. Krone-Martins54, M. Kudryashova38, I. Kull91, R. K. Bachchan13, F. Lacoste-Seris62, A. F. Lanza52, J.-B. Lavigne62, C. Le Poncin-Lafitte36, Y. Lebreton4,103, T. Lebzelter64, S. Leccia84, N. Leclerc4, I. Lecoeur-Taibi33, V. Lemaitre62, H. Lenhardt6, F. Leroux62, S. Liao27,104, E. Licata63, H. E. P. Lindstrøm28,105, T. A. Lister106, E. Livanou49, A. Lobel39, W. Löffler6, M. López71, A. Lopez-Lozano107, D. Lorenz64, T. Loureiro15, I. MacDonald41, T. Magalhães Fernandes92, S. Managau62, R. G. Mann41, G. Mantelet6, O. Marchal4, J. M. Marchant108, M. Marconi84, J. Marie109, S. Marinoni79,58, P. M. Marrese79,58, G. Marschalkó110,111, D. J. Marshall112, J. M. Martín-Fleitas47, M. Martino30, N. Mary62, G. Matijevič89, T. Mazeh91, P. J. McMillan13, S. Messina52, A. Mestre113, D. Michalik13, N. R. Millar7, B. M. H. Miranda54, D. Molina10, R. Molinaro84, M. Molinaro114, L. Molnár110, M. Moniez115, P. Montegriffo31, D. Monteiro21, R. Mor10, A. Mora47, R. Morbidelli27, T. Morel43, S. Morgenthaler116, T. Morley86, D. Morris41, A. F. Mulone30, T. Muraveva31, I. Musella84, J. Narbonne62, G. Nelemans25,24, L. Nicastro117, L. Noval62, C. Ordénovic14, J. Ordieres-Meré118, P. Osborne7, C. Pagani72, I. Pagano52, F. Pailler16, H. Palacin62, L. Palaversa8, P. Parsons22, T. Paulsen21, M. Pecoraro63, R. Pedrosa119, H. Pentikäinen55, J. Pereira21, B. Pichon14, A. M. Piersimoni83, F.-X. Pineau45, E. Plachy110, G. Plum4, E. Poujoulet120, A. Prša121, L. Pulone79, S. Ragaini31, S. Rago27, N. Rambaux38, M. Ramos-Lerate122, P. Ranalli13, G. Rauw43, A. Read72, S. Regibo24, F. Renk15, C. Reylé59, R. A. Ribeiro92, L. Rimoldini33, V. Ripepi84, A. Riva27, G. Rixon7, M. Roelens8, M. Romero-Gómez10, N. Rowell41, F. Royer4, A. Rudolph15, L. Ruiz-Dern4, G. Sadowski18, T. Sagristà Sellés6, J. Sahlmann12, J. Salgado57, E. Salguero57, M. Sarasso27, H. Savietto123, A. Schnorhk21, M. Schultheis14, E. Sciacca52, M. Segol124, J. C. Segovia32, D. Segransan8, E. Serpell86, I-C. Shih4, R. Smareglia114, R. L. Smart27, C. Smith125, E. Solano71,126, F. Solitro30, R. Sordo3, S. Soria Nieto10, J. Souchay36, A. Spagna27, F. Spoto14, U. Stampa6, I. A. Steele108, H. Steidelmüller11, C. A. Stephenson22, H. Stoev127, F. F. Suess7, M. Süveges33, J. Surdej43, L. Szabados110, E. Szegedi-Elek110, D. Tapiador128,129, F. Taris36, G. Tauran62, M. B. Taylor130, R. Teixeira85, D. Terrett34, B. Tingley131, S. C. Trager76, C. Turon4, A. Ulla132, E. Utrilla47, G. Valentini83, A. van Elteren2, E. Van Hemelryck39, M. van Leeuwen7, M. Varadi8,110, A. Vecchiato27, J. Veljanoski76, T. Via77, D. Vicente96, S. Vogt133, H. Voss10, V. Votruba95, S. Voutsinas41, G. Walmsley16, M. Weiler10, K. Weingrill89, D. Werner15, T. Wevers25, G. Whitehead15, Ł. Wyrzykowski7,134, A. Yoldas7, M. Žerjal100, S. Zucker87, C. Zurbach48, T. Zwitter100, A. Alecu7, M. Allen1, C. Allende Prieto26,135,136, A. Amorim54, G. Anglada-Escudé10, V. Arsenijevic54, S. Azaz1, P. Balm22, M. Beck33, H.-H. Bernstein†,6, L. Bigot14, A. Bijaoui14, C. Blasco137, M. Bonfigli83, G. Bono79, S. Boudreault26,138, A. Bressan139, S. Brown7, P.-M. Brunet16, P. Bunclark†,7, R. Buonanno79, A. G. Butkevich11, C. Carret119, C. Carrion60, L. Chemin23,140, F. Chéreau4, L. Corcione27, E. Darmigny16, K. S. de Boer141, P. de Teodoro32, P. T. de Zeeuw2,142, C. Delle Luche4,62, C. D. Domingues143, P. Dubath33, F. Fodor16, B. Frézouls16, A. Fries10, D. Fustes53, D. Fyfe72, E. Gallardo10, J. Gallegos32, D. Gardiol27, M. Gebran10,144, A. Gomboc100,145, A. Gómez4, E. Grux59, A. Gueguen4,146, A. Heyrovsky41, J. Hoar12, G. Iannicola79, Y. Isasi Parache10, A.-M. Janotto16, E. Joliet42,147, A. Jonckheere39, R. Keil148,149, D.-W. Kim5, P. Klagyivik110, J. Klar89, J. Knude28, O. Kochukhov50, I. Kolka150, J. Kos100,151, A. Kutka95,152, V. Lainey38, D. LeBouquin62, C. Liu5,153, D. Loreggia27, V. V. Makarov154, M. G. Marseille62, C. Martayan39,155, O. Martinez-Rubi10, B. Massart14,62,17, F. Meynadier4,36, S. Mignot4, U. Munari3, A.-T. Nguyen16, T. Nordlander50, P. Ocvirk89,45, K. S. O’Flaherty156, A. Olias Sanz157, P. Ortiz72, J. Osorio68, D. Oszkiewicz55,158, A. Ouzounis41, M. Palmer10, P. Park8, E. Pasquato18, C. Peltzer7, J. Peralta10, F. Péturaud4, T. Pieniluoma55, E. Pigozzi30, J. Poels†,43, G. Prat159, T. Prod’homme2 , 21, F. Raison160,146, J. M. Rebordao143, D. Risquez2, B. Rocca-Volmerange161, S. Rosen26,72, M. I. Ruiz-Fuertes33, F. Russo27, S. Sembay72, I. Serraller Vizcaino162, A. Short1, A. Siebert45,89, H. Silva92, D. Sinachopoulos37, E. Slezak14, M. Soffel11, D. Sosnowska8, V. Straižys163, M. ter Linden42,164, D. Terrell165, S. Theil166, C. Tiede5,167, L. Troisi58,168, P. Tsalmantza5, D. Tur77, M. Vaccari169,170, F. Vachier38, P. Valles10, W. Van Hamme171, L. Veltz89,40, J. Virtanen55,56, J.-M. Wallut16, R. Wichmann172, M. I. Wilkinson7,72, H. Ziaeepour59 and S. Zschocke11

1 Scientific Support Office, Directorate of Science, European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESA/ESTEC), Keplerlaan 1, 2201AZ, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
2 Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Niels Bohrweg 2, 2333 CA Leiden, The Netherlands
3 INAF−Osservatorio astronomico di Padova, Vicolo Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy
4 GEPI, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Univ. Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 5 Place Jules Janssen, 92190 Meudon, France
5 Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
6 Astronomisches Rechen-Institut, Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg, Mönchhofstr. 12−14, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
7 Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK
8 Department of Astronomy, University of Geneva, Chemin des Maillettes 51, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland
9 Mission Operations Division, Operations Department, Directorate of Science, European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESA/ESTEC), Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
10 Institut de Ciències del Cosmos, Universitat de Barcelona (IEEC-UB), Martí Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
11 Lohrmann Observatory, Technische Universität Dresden, Mommsenstraße 13, 01062 Dresden, Germany
12 European Space Astronomy Centre (ESA/ESAC), Camino bajo del Castillo, s/n, Urbanizacion Villafranca del Castillo, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28692 Madrid, Spain
13 Lund Observatory, Department of Astronomy and Theoretical Physics, Lund University, Box 43, 22100 Lund, Sweden
14 Laboratoire Lagrange, Université Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, CS 34229, 06304 Nice Cedex, France
15 European Space Operations Centre (ESA/ESOC), Robert Bosch Straße 5, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
16 CNES Centre Spatial de Toulouse, 18 avenue Edouard Belin, 31401 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
17 Airbus Defence and Space SAS, 31 Rue des Cosmonautes, 31402 Toulouse Cedex 4, France
18 Institut d’Astronomie et d’Astrophysique, Université Libre de Bruxelles CP 226, Boulevard du Triomphe, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
19 F.R.S.-FNRS, Rue d’Egmont 5, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
20 INAF−Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo Enrico Fermi 5, 50125 Firenze, Italy
21 Directorate of Science, European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESA/ESTEC), Keplerlaan 1, 2201AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands
22 Telespazio Vega UK Ltd for ESA/ESAC, Camino bajo del Castillo, s/n, Urbanizacion Villafranca del Castillo, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28692 Madrid, Spain
23 Laboratoire d’astrophysique de Bordeaux, Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, B18N, allée Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 33615 Pessac, France
24 Instituut voor Sterrenkunde, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
25 Department of Astrophysics/IMAPP, Radboud University Nijmegen, PO Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands
26 Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6NT, UK
27 INAF−Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, via Osservatorio 20, 10025 Pino Torinese (TO), Italy
28 Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Juliane Maries Vej 30, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
29 Centre for Electronic Imaging, Department of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall MK7 6 AA Milton Keynes, UK
30 ALTEC S.p.a, Corso Marche, 79, 10146 Torino, Italy
31 INAF−Osservatorio Astronomico di Bologna, via Ranzani 1, 40127 Bologna, Italy
32 Serco Gestión de Negocios for ESA/ESAC, Camino bajo del Castillo, s/n, Urbanizacion Villafranca del Castillo, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28692 Madrid, Spain
33 Department of Astronomy, University of Geneva, Chemin d’Ecogia 16, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland
34 STFC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Didcot, OX11 0QX, UK
35 Gaia DPAC Project Office, ESAC, Camino bajo del Castillo, s/n, Urbanizacion Villafranca del Castillo, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28692 Madrid, Spain
36 SYRTE, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, LNE, 61 avenue de l’Observatoire, 75014 Paris, France
37 National Observatory of Athens, I. Metaxa and Vas. Pavlou, Palaia Penteli, 15236 Athens, Greece
38 IMCCE, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, Univ. Lille, 77 av. Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France
39 Royal Observatory of Belgium, Ringlaan 3, 1180 Brussels, Belgium
40 Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale, Université Paris XI, UMR 8617, CNRS, Bâtiment 121, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France
41 Institute for Astronomy, Royal Observatory, University of Edinburgh, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK
42 HE Space Operations BV for ESA/ESAC, Camino bajo del Castillo, s/n, Urbanizacion Villafranca del Castillo, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28692 Madrid, Spain
43 Institut d’Astrophysique et de Géophysique, Université de Liège, 19c, Allée du 6 Août, 4000 Liège, Belgium
44 Área de Lenguajes y Sistemas Informáticos, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Ctra. de Utrera, km 1. 41013 Sevilla, Spain
45 Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, UMR 7550, 11 rue de l’Université, 67000 Strasbourg, France
46 Kavli Institute for Cosmology, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK
47 Aurora Technology for ESA/ESAC, Camino bajo del Castillo, s/n, Urbanizacion Villafranca del Castillo, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28692 Madrid, Spain
48 Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier, Université Montpellier, Place Eugène Bataillon, CC72, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 05, France
49 Department of Astrophysics, Astronomy and Mechanics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografos, 15783 Athens, Greece
50 Department of Physics and Astronomy, Division of Astronomy and Space Physics, Uppsala University, Box 516, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden
51 Università di Catania, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Sezione Astrofisica, via S. Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
52 INAF−Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania, via S. Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
53 Universidade da Coruña, Facultade de Informática, Campus de Elviña S/N, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
54 CENTRA, Universidade de Lisboa, FCUL, Campo Grande, Edif. C8, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
55 University of Helsinki, Department of Physics, PO Box 64, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
56 Finnish Geospatial Research Institute FGI, Geodeetinrinne 2, 02430 Masala, Finland
57 Isdefe for ESA/ESAC, Camino bajo del Castillo, s/n, Urbanizacion Villafranca del Castillo, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28692 Madrid, Spain
58 ASI Science Data Center, via del Politecnico SNC, 00133 Roma, Italy
59 Institut UTINAM UMR6213, CNRS, OSU THETA Franche-Comté Bourgogne, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25000 Besançon, France
60 Dpto. de Inteligencia Artificial, UNED, c/ Juan del Rosal 16, 28040 Madrid, Spain
61 Elecnor Deimos Space for ESA/ESAC, Camino bajo del Castillo, s/n, Urbanizacion Villafranca del Castillo, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28692 Madrid, Spain
62 Thales Services for CNES Centre Spatial de Toulouse, 18 avenue Edouard Belin, 31401 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
63 EURIX S.r.l., via Carcano 26, 10153 Torino, Italy
64 University of Vienna, Department of Astrophysics, Türkenschanzstraße 17, A 1180 Vienna, Austria
65 Department of Physics and Astronomy, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
66 ON/MCTI-BR, Rua Gal. José Cristino 77, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 20921-400 RJ, Brazil
67 OV/UFRJ-BR, Ladeira Pedro Antônio 43, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 20080-090 RJ, Brazil
68 Faculdade Ciencias, Universidade do Porto, Departamento Matematica Aplicada, Rua do Campo Alegre, 687 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
69 Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espa co, Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
70 Vitrociset Belgium for ESA/ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201AZ, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
71 Departamento de Astrofísica, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), ESA-ESAC, Camino Bajo del Castillo s/n. 28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain
72 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
73 Deimos Space S.L.U. for ESA/ESOC, Robert-Bosch-Straße 5, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
74 University of Oviedo, Campus Universitario, 33203 Gijón, Spain
75 University of Cádiz, Avd. De la universidad, Jerez de la Frontera, 11002 Cádiz, Spain
76 Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Landleven 12, 9747 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
77 Consorci de Serveis Universitaris de Catalunya, C/ Gran Capità, 2−4 3rd floor, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
78 University of Turin, Department of Computer Sciences, Corso Svizzera 185, 10149 Torino, Italy
79 INAF−Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, via di Frascati 33, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone (Roma), Italy
80 CRAAG−Centre de Recherche en Astronomie, Astrophysique et Géophysique, Route de l’Observatoire BP 63, Bouzareah 16340 Alger, Algeria
81 Universiteit Antwerpen, Onderzoeksgroep Toegepaste Wiskunde, Middelheimlaan 1, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium
82 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
83 INAF−Osservatorio Astronomico di Teramo, via Mentore Maggini, 64100 Teramo, Italy
84 INAF−Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, via Moiariello 16, 80131 Napoli, Italy
85 Instituto de Astronomia, Geofìsica e Ciências Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 1226, Cidade Universitaria, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
86 Telespazio Vega Deutschland GmbH for ESA/ESOC, Robert-Bosch-Straße 5, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
87 Department of Geosciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801 Tel Aviv, Israel
88 Astronomical Institute Anton Pannekoek, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94249, 1090 GE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
89 Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP), An der Sternwarte 16, 14482 Potsdam, Germany
90 ATOS for CNES Centre Spatial de Toulouse, 18 avenue Edouard Belin, 31401 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
91 School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, 6997801 Tel Aviv, Israel
92 UNINOVA − CTS, Campus FCT-UNL,Monte da Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
93 Laboratoire Géoazur, Université Nice Sophia-Antipolis, UMR 7329, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, 250 rue A. Einstein, 06560 Valbonne, France
94 RHEA for ESA/ESAC, Camino bajo del Castillo, s/n, Urbanizacion Villafranca del Castillo, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28692 Madrid, Spain
95 Astronomical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Fričova 298, 25165 Ondřejov, Czech Republic
96 Barcelona Supercomputing Center − Centro Nacional de Supercomputación, c/ Jordi Girona 29, Ed. Nexus II, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
97 Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of La Rioja, c/ San José de Calasanz, 31, 26004 Logroño, La Rioja, Spain
98 ETSE Telecomunicación, Universidade de Vigo, Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Galicia, Spain
99 SRON, Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Sorbonnelaan 2, 3584CA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
100 Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, Jadranska ulica 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
101 Physics Department, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
102 Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge MA 02138, USA
103 Institut de Physique de Rennes, Université de Rennes 1, 35042 Rennes, France
104 Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 80 Nandan Rd, 200030 Shanghai, PR China
105 CSC Danmark A/S, Retortvej 8, 2500 Valby, Denmark
106 Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network, Inc., 6740 Cortona Drive, Suite 102, Goleta, CA 93117, USA
107 CGI for ESA/ESOC, Robert-Bosch-Straße 5, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
108 Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, L3 5RF, UK
109 LSE Space GmbH for ESA/ESOC, Robert-Bosch-Straße 5, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
110 Konkoly Observatory, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Konkoly Thege Miklós út 15−17, 1121 Budapest, Hungary
111 Baja Observatory of University of Szeged, Szegedi út III/70, 6500 Baja, Hungary
112 Laboratoire AIM, IRFU/Service d’Astrophysique − CEA/DSM − CNRS − Université Paris Diderot, Bât 709, CEA-Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
113 GMV for ESA/ESOC, Robert-Bosch-Straße 5, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
114 INAF−Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, via G.B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy
115 Laboratoire de l’Accélérateur Linéaire, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS/IN2P3, Université Paris-Saclay, 91898 Orsay Cedex, France
116 École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, SB MATHAA STAP, MA B1 473 (Bâtiment MA), Station 8, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
117 INAF/IASF-Bologna, via P. Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
118 Technical University of Madrid, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
119 EQUERT International for CNES Centre Spatial de Toulouse, 18 avenue Edouard Belin, 31401 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
120 AKKA for CNES Centre Spatial de Toulouse, 18 avenue Edouard Belin, 31401 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
121 Villanova University, Dept. of Astrophysics and Planetary Science, 800 E Lancaster Ave, Villanova PA 19085, USA
122 Vitrociset Belgium for ESA/ESAC, Camino bajo del Castillo, s/n, Urbanizacion Villafranca del Castillo, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28692 Madrid, Spain
123 Fork Research, Rua do Cruzado Osberno, Lt. 1, 9 esq., Lisboa, Portugal
124 APAVE SUDEUROPE SAS for CNES Centre Spatial de Toulouse, 18 avenue Edouard Belin, 31401 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
125 Serco Services GmbH for ESA/ESOC, Robert-Bosch-Straße 5, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
126 Spanish Virtual Observatory, Spain
127 Fundación Galileo Galilei − INAF, Rambla José Ana Fernández Pérez 7, 38712 Breña Baja, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
128 INSA for ESA/ESAC, Camino bajo del Castillo, s/n, Urbanizacion Villafranca del Castillo, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28692 Madrid, Spain
129 Dpto. Arquitectura de Computadores y Automática, Facultad de Informática, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, C/ Prof. José García Santesmases s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
130 H H Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL, UK
131 Stellar Astrophysics Centre, Aarhus University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, 120 Ny Munkegade, Building 1520, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
132 Applied Physics Department,University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
133 HE Space Operations BV for ESA/ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201AZ, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
134 Warsaw University Observatory, Al. Ujazdowskie 4, 00-478 Warszawa, Poland
135 Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, 38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
136 Universidad de La Laguna, Departamento de Astrofísica, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
137 RHEA for ESA/ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201AZ, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
138 Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
139 SISSA (Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati), via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
140 Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais/Ministério da Ciencia Tecnologia, Avenida dos Astronautas 1758, São José Dos Campos, SP 12227-010, Brazil
141 Argelander Institut für Astronomie der Universität Bonn, Auf dem Hügel 71, 53121 Bonn, Germany
142 European Southern Observatory (ESO), Karl-Schwarzschild-Straße 2, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
143 Laboratory of Optics, Lasers and Systems, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campus do Lumiar, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisboa, Portugal
144 Department of Physics and Astronomy, Notre Dame University, Louaize, PO Box 72, Zouk Mikaël, Lebanon
145 University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska 13, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia
146 Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, OPINAS, Gießenbachstraße, 85741 Garching, Germany
147 NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive, California Institute of Technology, Mail Code 100-22, 770 South Wilson Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
148 Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM), c/o Universität Bremen, Am Fallturm 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
149 RHEA System for ESA/ESOC, Robert Bosch Straße 5, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
150 Tartu Observatory, 61602 Tõravere, Estonia
151 Sydney Institute for Astronomy, School of Physics A28, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
152 Slovak Organisation for Space Activities, Zamocka 18, 85101 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
153 National Astronomical Observatories, CAS, 100012 Beijing, PR China
154 US Naval Observatory, Astrometry Department, 3450 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington DC 20392-5420 D.C., USA
155 European Southern Observatory (ESO), Alonso de Córdova 3107, Vitacura, Casilla 19001 Santiago de Chile, Chile
156 EJR-Quartz BV for ESA/ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201AZ, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
157 The Server Labs for ESA/ESAC, Camino bajo del Castillo, s/n, Urbanizacion Villafranca del Castillo, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28692 Madrid, Spain
158 Astronomical Observatory Institute, Faculty of Physics, A. Mickiewicz University, ul. Słoneczna 36, 60-286 Poznań, Poland
159 CS Systèmes d’Information for CNES Centre Spatial de Toulouse, 18 avenue Edouard Belin, 31401 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
160 Praesepe BV for ESA/ESAC, Camino bajo del Castillo, s/n, Urbanizacion Villafranca del Castillo, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28692 Madrid, Spain
161 Sorbonne Universités UPMC et CNRS, UMR7095, Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris, 75014 Paris, France
162 GMV for ESA/ESAC, Camino bajo del Castillo, s/n, Urbanizacion Villafranca del Castillo, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28692 Madrid, Spain
163 Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy, Vilnius University, Sauletekio al. 3, 10222 Vilnius, Lithuania
164 S[&]T Corporation, PO Box 608, 2600 AP, Delft, The Netherlands
165 Department of Space Studies, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), 1050 Walnut Street, Suite 300, Boulder, Colorado 80302, USA
166 Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institute of Space Systems, Am Fallturm 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
167 University of Applied Sciences Munich, Karlstr. 6, 80333 Munich, Germany
168 Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
169 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, 7535 Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa
170 INAF−Istituto di Radioastronomia, via Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
171 Department of Physics, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, USA
172 Hamburger Sternwarte, Gojenbergsweg 112, 21029 Hamburg, Germany

⋆⋆ Corresponding author: T. Prusti, e-mail: tprusti@cosmos.esa.int

Received: 8 July 2016
Accepted: 16 August 2016

Abstract

Gaia is a cornerstone mission in the science programme of the EuropeanSpace Agency (ESA). The spacecraft construction was approved in 2006, following a study in which the original interferometric concept was changed to a direct-imaging approach. Both the spacecraft and the payload were built by European industry. The involvement of the scientific community focusses on data processing for which the international Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC) was selected in 2007. Gaia was launched on 19 December 2013 and arrived at its operating point, the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth-Moon system, a few weeks later. The commissioning of the spacecraft and payload was completed on 19 July 2014. The nominal five-year mission started with four weeks of special, ecliptic-pole scanning and subsequently transferred into full-sky scanning mode. We recall the scientific goals of Gaia and give a description of the as-built spacecraft that is currently (mid-2016) being operated to achieve these goals. We pay special attention to the payload module, the performance of which is closely related to the scientific performance of the mission. We provide a summary of the commissioning activities and findings, followed by a description of the routine operational mode. We summarise scientific performance estimates on the basis of in-orbit operations. Several intermediate Gaia data releases are planned and the data can be retrieved from the Gaia Archive, which is available through the Gaia home page.

Key words: space vehicles: instruments / Galaxy: structure / astrometry / parallaxes / proper motions / telescopes