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TheGaiamission

Astronomy and Astrophysics · 2016 · Vol. 595 · pp. A1–A1

T. Prusti✉(European Space Research and Technology Centre)J. H. J. de Bruijne(European Space Research and Technology Centre)A. G. A. Brown(Leiden University)A. Vallenari(Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova)C. Babusiaux(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)C. A. L. Bailer-Jones(Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)U. Bastian(Heidelberg University)M. Biermann(Heidelberg University)D. W. Evans(University of Cambridge)L. Eyer(University of Geneva)F. Jansen(European Space Research and Technology Centre)C. Jordi(Universitat de Barcelona)S. A. Klioner(Technische Universität Dresden)U. Lammers(European Space Astronomy Centre)L. Lindegren(Lund University)X. Luri(Universitat de Barcelona)F. Mignard(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)David Milligan(European Space Operations Centre)C. Panem(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)Vincent Poinsignon(Airbus (France))D. Pourbaix(Université Libre de Bruxelles)S. Randich(Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory)G. Sarri(European Space Research and Technology Centre)P. Sartoretti(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)H. I. Siddiqui(European Space Astronomy Centre)C. Soubiran(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)V. Valette(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)F. van Leeuwen(University of Cambridge)N. A. Walton(University of Cambridge)C. Aerts(Radboud University Nijmegen)F. Arenou(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)M. Cropper(University College London)R. Drimmel(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)E. Høg(University of Copenhagen)D. Katz(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)M. G. Lattanzi(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)William O’Mullane(European Space Astronomy Centre)E. K. Grebel(Heidelberg University)A. D. Holland(The Open University)C. Huc(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)X. Passot(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)L. BramanteC. Cacciari(Osservatorio astronomico di Bologna)J. Castañeda(Universitat de Barcelona)L. Chaoul(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)N. CheekF. De Angeli(University of Cambridge)C. Fabricius(Universitat de Barcelona)R. Guerra(European Space Astronomy Centre)J. Hernández(European Space Astronomy Centre)A. Jean-Antoine-Piccolo(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)E. Masana(Universitat de Barcelona)R. MessineoN. Mowlavï(University of Geneva)K. Nienartowicz(University of Geneva)D. Ordóñez-Blanco(University of Geneva)P. Panuzzo(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)J. Portell(Universitat de Barcelona)P. J. Richards(Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)M. Riello(University of Cambridge)G. M. Seabroke(University College London)P. Tanga(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)F. Thévenin(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)J. Torra(Universitat de Barcelona)S. Els(Heidelberg University)G. Gracia-Abril(European Space Astronomy Centre)G. Comoretto(European Space Astronomy Centre)M. Garcia-Reinaldos(European Space Astronomy Centre)T. Lock(European Space Astronomy Centre)Emma Mercier(Heidelberg University)M. Altmann(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)R. Andrae(Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)T. L. Astraatmadja(Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)I. Bellas-Velidis(National Observatory of Athens)K. Benson(University College London)J. Berthier(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)R. Blomme(Royal Observatory of Belgium)G. Busso(University of Cambridge)B. Carry(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)A. Cellino(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)G. Clementini(Osservatorio astronomico di Bologna)S. Cowell(University of Cambridge)O. L. Creevey(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)J. Cuypers(Royal Observatory of Belgium)M. Davidson(Royal Observatory)J. De Ridder(KU Leuven)A. de Torres(European Space Astronomy Centre)L. Delchambre(University of Liège)A. Dell’Oro(Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory)C. Ducourant(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)Y. Frémat(Royal Observatory of Belgium)Miguel García-Torres(Universidad Pablo de Olavide)E. Gosset(University of Liège)J. L. Halbwachs(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)N. C. Hambly(Royal Observatory)D. L. Harrison(University of Cambridge)M. Häuser(Heidelberg University)Daniel Hestroffer(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)S. T. Hodgkin(University of Cambridge)H. E. Huckle(University College London)A. Hutton(European Space Astronomy Centre)G. Jasniewicz(Université de Montpellier)S. Jordan(Heidelberg University)M. Kontizas(National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)A. J. Korn(Uppsala University)A. C. Lanzafame(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania)M. Manteiga(Universidade da Coruña)A. Moitinho(University of Lisbon)K. Muinonen(University of Helsinki)J. Osinde(Ingeniería de Sistemas para la Defensa de España)E. Pancino(Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory)T. Pauwels(Royal Observatory of Belgium)J.-M. Petit(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)A. Recio–Blanco(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)A. C. Robin(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)L. M. Sarro(Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia)C. Siopis(Université Libre de Bruxelles)M. A. Smith(Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)K. W. Smith(Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)A. Sozzetti(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)W. Thuillot(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)W. van Reeven(European Space Astronomy Centre)Y. Viala(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)U. Abbas(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)A. Abreu Aramburu(European Space Astronomy Centre)S. Accart(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)J. J. Aguado(Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia)P. M. Allan(Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)Walter Allasia(Eurix (Italy))G. Altavilla(Osservatorio astronomico di Bologna)M. A. Álvarez(Universidade da Coruña)J. Alves(University of Vienna)Richard I. Anderson(University of Geneva)A. H. Andrei(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)E. Anglada Varela(Ingeniería de Sistemas para la Defensa de España)E. Antiche(Universitat de Barcelona)T. Antoja(European Space Research and Technology Centre)Sonia Antón(University of Lisbon)B. Arcay(Universidade da Coruña)Alessandro Atzei(European Space Research and Technology Centre)L. Ayache(European Space Research and Technology Centre)N. Bach(European Space Astronomy Centre)Steven G. Baker(University College London)L. Balaguer-Núñez(Universitat de Barcelona)C. Barache(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)Carlos Barata(University of Lisbon)A. Barbier(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)F. Barblan(University of Geneva)M. Baroni(European Space Research and Technology Centre)D. Barrado(Centro de Astrobiología)M. Barros(University of Lisbon)M. A. Barstow(University of Leicester)U. Becciani(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania)M. Bellazzini(Osservatorio astronomico di Bologna)Gabriele Bellei(European Space Operations Centre)A. Bello-García(Universidad de Oviedo)Vasily Belokurov(University of Cambridge)Philippe Bendjoya(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)Á. Berihuete(Universidad de Cádiz)L. Bianchi(Eurix (Italy))O. Bienaymé(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)F. Billebaud(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)N. Blagorodnova(University of Cambridge)S. Blanco-Cuaresma(University of Geneva)T. Boch(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)A. Bombrun(European Space Astronomy Centre)R. Borrachero(Universitat de Barcelona)S. Bouquillon(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)G. Bourda(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)H. Bouy(Centro de Astrobiología)A. Bragaglia(Osservatorio astronomico di Bologna)M. A. Breddels(University of Groningen)N. Brouillet(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)Thomas Brüsemeister(Heidelberg University)B. Bucciarelli(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)Frank Budnik(European Space Operations Centre)P. Burgess(University of Cambridge)Ross Burgon(The Open University)A. Burlacu(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)D. Busonero(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)R. Buzzi(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)E. Caffau(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)Joan Cambras(Consorci de Serveis Universitaris de Catalunya)H. Campbell(University of Cambridge)R. Cancelliere(University of Turin)T. Cantat-Gaudin(Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova)T. Carlucci(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)J. M. Carrasco(Universitat de Barcelona)M. Castellani(Astronomical Observatory of Rome)P. Charlot(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)J. Charnas(University of Geneva)Philippe Charvet(Airbus (France))F. Chassat(Airbus (France))A. Chiavassa(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)M. Clotet(Universitat de Barcelona)G. Cocozza(Osservatorio astronomico di Bologna)R. S. Collins(Royal Observatory)Peter L. Collins(European Space Operations Centre)G. Costigan(Leiden University)F. Crifo(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)N. J. G. Cross(Royal Observatory)M. Crosta(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)C. Crowley(European Space Astronomy Centre)Carlos Dafonte(Universidade da Coruña)Y. Damerdji(University of Liège)A. Dapergolas(National Observatory of Athens)Pedro David(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)M. David(University of Antwerp)P. De Cat(Royal Observatory of Belgium)F. de FeliceP. de Laverny(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)F. De Luise(National Institute for Astrophysics)R. De MarchD. de Martino(Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte)R. de Souza(Universidade de São Paulo)J. Debosscher(KU Leuven)E. del Pozo(European Space Astronomy Centre)M. Delbo(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)A. Delgado(Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia)H. E. Delgado(Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia)F. di Marco(Robert Bosch (Germany))P. Di Matteo(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)S. Diakite(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)E. Distefano(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania)C. Dolding(University College London)S. Dos Anjos(Universidade de São Paulo)P. Drazinos(National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)J. Durán(Ingeniería de Sistemas para la Defensa de España)Yifat Dzigan(Tel Aviv University)Eric Ecale(Airbus (France))B. Edvardsson(Uppsala University)H. Enke(Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam)Matthias Erdmann(European Space Research and Technology Centre)D. Escolar(European Space Research and Technology Centre)Marta Espina(European Space Operations Centre)N. W. Evans(University of Cambridge)G. Eynard Bontemps(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)C. Fabre(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)M. Fabrizio(National Institute for Astrophysics)S. Faigler(Tel Aviv University)A. J. Falcão(Uninova)M. Farràs Casas(Universitat de Barcelona)F. Faye(Airbus (France))L. Federici(Osservatorio astronomico di Bologna)G. Fedorets(University of Helsinki)J. Fernández-HernándezP. Fernique(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)A. Fienga(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)F. Figueras(Universitat de Barcelona)Francesco Maria De FilippiK. Findeisen(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)A. FontiM. Fouesneau(Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)E. Fraile(European Space Astronomy Centre)M. Fraser(University of Cambridge)J. Fuchs(Czech Academy of Sciences, Astronomical Institute)Robert Furnell(European Space Research and Technology Centre)M. Gai(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)S. Galleti(Osservatorio astronomico di Bologna)L. Galluccio(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)D. Garabato(Universidade da Coruña)F. García-Sedano(Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia)P. Garé(European Space Research and Technology Centre)A. Garofalo(Osservatorio astronomico di Bologna)N. Garralda(Universitat de Barcelona)P. Gavras(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)J. Gerssen(Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam)R. Geyer(Technische Universität Dresden)G. Gilmore(University of Cambridge)S. Girona(Barcelona Supercomputing Center)G. GiuffridaM. Gomes(University of Lisbon)Ana González‐Marcos(Universidad de La Rioja)J. González-Núñez(Universidade de Vigo)J. J. González-Vidal(Universitat de Barcelona)Mikael Granvik(University of Helsinki)A. Guerrier(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)P. Guillout(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)J. Guiraud(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)A. Gúrpide(Universitat de Barcelona)R. Gutiérrez–Sánchez(European Space Astronomy Centre)L. P. Guy(University of Geneva)R. Haigron(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)D. Hatzidimitriou(National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)M. Haywood(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)U. Heiter(Uppsala University)A. Helmi(University of Groningen)D. Hobbs(Lund University)W. Hofmann(Heidelberg University)B. Holl(University of Geneva)G. Holland(University of Cambridge)John Douglas Hunt(University College London)Arkadiusz Hypki(Leiden University)V. IcardiM. Irwin(University of Cambridge)G. Jevardat de Fombelle(University of Geneva)P. Jofré(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)P. G. Jonker(Radboud University Nijmegen)A. Jorissen(Université Libre de Bruxelles)F. Julbé(Universitat de Barcelona)A. Karampelas(National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)A. Kochoska(University of Ljubljana)R. Kohley(European Space Astronomy Centre)K. Kolenberg(University of Antwerp)E. Kontizas(National Observatory of Athens)S. E. Koposov(University of Cambridge)G. Kordopatis(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)P. Koubsky(Czech Academy of Sciences, Astronomical Institute)Andrzej Kowalczyk(European Space Operations Centre)A. Krone-Martins(University of Lisbon)M. Kudryashova(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)Ilya Kull(Tel Aviv University)R. K. Bachchan(Lund University)F. Lacoste-Seris(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)A. F. Lanza(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania)J.-B. Lavigne(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)C. Le Poncin-Lafitte(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)Y. Lebreton(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)T. Lebzelter(University of Vienna)S. Leccia(Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte)N. Leclerc(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)I. Lecoeur-Taibi(University of Geneva)V. Lemaı̂tre(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)H. Lenhardt(Heidelberg University)F. Leroux(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)S. Liao(Shanghai Astronomical Observatory)E. Licata(Eurix (Italy))H. E. P. Lindstrøm(University of Copenhagen)Tim Lister(Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network)E. Livanou(National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)A. Lobel(Royal Observatory of Belgium)W. Löffler(Heidelberg University)Miguel X Diaz Lopez(Centro de Astrobiología)A. Lopez-Lozano(Robert Bosch (Germany))D. Lorenz(University of Vienna)Tiago Loureiro(European Space Operations Centre)I. MacDonald(Royal Observatory)Tony Fernandes(Uninova)S. Managau(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)R. G. Mann(Royal Observatory)G. Mantelet(Heidelberg University)O. Marchal(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)J. M. Marchant(Liverpool John Moores University)M. Marconi(Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte)Jonas Marie(European Space Operations Centre)S. Marinoni(Astronomical Observatory of Rome)P. M. Marrese(Astronomical Observatory of Rome)G. Marschalkó(University of Szeged)D. J. Marshall(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)J Martín-Fleitas(European Space Astronomy Centre)M. MartinoN. Mary(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)G. Matijevič(Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam)T. Mazeh(Tel Aviv University)P. J. McMillan(Lund University)S. Messina(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania)Aina Roig Mestre(Robert Bosch (Germany))D. Michalik(Lund University)N. R. Millar(University of Cambridge)B. M. H. Miranda(University of Lisbon)D. Molina(Universitat de Barcelona)R. Molinaro(Trieste Astronomical Observatory)M. Molinaro(Trieste Astronomical Observatory)L. Molnár(Konkoly Observatory)M. Moniez(Université Paris-Sud)P. Montegriffo(Osservatorio astronomico di Bologna)Douglas Monteiro(European Space Research and Technology Centre)R. Mor(European Space Astronomy Centre)A. Mora(European Space Astronomy Centre)R. Morbidelli(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)T. Morel(University of Liège)S. Morgenthaler(École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)T. Morley(Robert Bosch (Germany))D. Morris(Royal Observatory)A. F. MuloneT. Muraveva(Osservatorio astronomico di Bologna)I. Musella(Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte)J. Narbonne(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)G. Nelemans(Radboud University Nijmegen)L. Nicastro(National Institute for Astrophysics)L. Noval(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)C. Ordénovic(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)Joaquín Ordieres‐Meré(Universidad Politécnica de Madrid)P. Osborne(University of Cambridge)C. Pagani(University of Leicester)I. Pagano(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania)F. Pailler(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)H. Palacin(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)L. Palaversa(University of Geneva)Paul Parsons(European Space Astronomy Centre)T. Paulsen(European Space Research and Technology Centre)Marco Pecoraro(Eurix (Italy))R. Pedrosa(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)Hanna Pentikäinen(University of Helsinki)J. Pereira(European Space Research and Technology Centre)Bruno Pichon(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)A. M. Piersimoni(National Institute for Astrophysics)F.‐X. Pineau(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)E. Plachy(Konkoly Observatory)G. Plum(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)E. Poujoulet(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)A. Prša(Villanova University)L. Pulone(Astronomical Observatory of Rome)S. Ragaini(Osservatorio astronomico di Bologna)S. Rago(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)N. Rambaux(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)M. Ramos-LerateP. Ranalli(Lund University)G. Rauw(University of Liège)A. Read(University of Leicester)S. Regibo(KU Leuven)Florian Renk(European Space Operations Centre)C. Reylé(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)Rita A. Ribeiro(Uninova)L. Rimoldini(University of Geneva)V. Ripepi(Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte)A. Riva(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)G. Rixon(University of Cambridge)M. Roelens(University of Geneva)M. Romero-Gómez(Universitat de Barcelona)N. Rowell(Royal Observatory)F. Royer(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)A. Rudolph(European Space Operations Centre)L. Ruiz-Dern(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)G. Sadowski(Université Libre de Bruxelles)A. Sagristà Sellés(Heidelberg University)J. Sahlmann(European Space Astronomy Centre)J. Salgado(Ingeniería de Sistemas para la Defensa de España)E. Salguero(Ingeniería de Sistemas para la Defensa de España)M. Sarasso(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)H. SaviettoA. Schnorhk(European Space Research and Technology Centre)M. Schultheis(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)‬‬‬‬‬‬Eva Sciacca(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania)M. Segol(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)J. C. SegoviaD. Ségransan(University of Geneva)E. Serpell(Robert Bosch (Germany))I-C. Shih(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)R. Smareglia(Trieste Astronomical Observatory)R. L. Smart(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)C. Smith(Robert Bosch (Germany))E. Solano(Centro de Astrobiología)F. SolitroR. Sordo(Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova)S. Soria Nieto(Universitat de Barcelona)J. Souchay(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)A. Spagna(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)F. Spoto(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)U. Stampa(Heidelberg University)I. A. Steele(Liverpool John Moores University)H. Steidelmüller(Technische Universität Dresden)C. A. Stephenson(European Space Astronomy Centre)H. Stoev(Telescopio Nazionale Galileo)F. F. Suess(University of Cambridge)M. Süveges(University of Geneva)J. Surdej(University of Liège)L. Szabados(Konkoly Observatory)E. Szegedi-Elek(Konkoly Observatory)D. Tapiador(Universidad Complutense de Madrid)F. Taris(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)G. Tauran(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)Mark Taylor(University of Bristol)R. Teixeira(Universidade de São Paulo)D. Terrett(Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)B. Tingley(Aarhus University)S. C. Trager(University of Groningen)C. Turon(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)A. Ulla(Universidade de Vigo)E. Utrilla(European Space Astronomy Centre)G. Valentini(National Institute for Astrophysics)A. van Elteren(Leiden University)E. Van Hemelryck(Royal Observatory of Belgium)M. van Leeuwen(University of Cambridge)Mihály Váradi(University of Geneva)A. Vecchiato(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)J. Veljanoski(University of Groningen)T. Via(Consorci de Serveis Universitaris de Catalunya)D. Vicente(Barcelona Supercomputing Center)S. Vogt(HE Space (Netherlands))H. Voss(Universitat de Barcelona)V. Votruba(Czech Academy of Sciences, Astronomical Institute)S. Voutsinas(Royal Observatory)G. Walmsley(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)M. Weiler(Universitat de Barcelona)K. Weingrill(Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam)Dieter Werner(European Space Operations Centre)T. Wevers(Radboud University Nijmegen)G. Whitehead(European Space Operations Centre)Ł. Wyrzykowski(University of Cambridge)A. Yoldas(University of Cambridge)M. Žerjal(University of Ljubljana)S. Zucker(Tel Aviv University)C. Zurbach(Université de Montpellier)T. Zwitter(University of Ljubljana)A. Alecu(University of Cambridge)M. Allen(European Space Research and Technology Centre)C. Allende Prieto(Universidad de La Laguna)A. Amorim(University of Lisbon)G. Anglada‐Escudé(Universitat de Barcelona)V. Arsenijevic(University of Lisbon)S. Azaz(European Space Research and Technology Centre)P. Balm(European Space Astronomy Centre)Mélanie Beck(University of Geneva)H.-H. Bernstein(Heidelberg University)Lionel Bigot(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)A. Bijaoui(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)C. Blasco(European Space Research and Technology Centre)M. Bonfigli(National Institute for Astrophysics)G. Bono(Astronomical Observatory of Rome)S. Boudreault(Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research)A. Bressan(Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati)Shannon Brown(University of Cambridge)Pere Brunet(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)P. Bunclark(University of Cambridge)R. Buonanno(Astronomical Observatory of Rome)A. G. Butkevich(Technische Universität Dresden)C. Carret(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)C. Carrion(Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia)L. Chemin(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)F. Chéreau(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)L. Corcione(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)E. Darmigny(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)K. S. de Boer(University of Bonn)P. de TeodoroP. T. de Zeeuw(Leiden University)Claire Delle Luche(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)Catherine Dominguès(University of Lisbon)P. Dubath(University of Geneva)F. Fodor(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)B. Frézouls(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)A. Fries(Universitat de Barcelona)D. Fustes(Universidade da Coruña)D. Fyfe(University of Leicester)E. Gallardo(Universitat de Barcelona)J. GallegosD. Gardiol(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)M. Gebran(Notre Dame University – Louaize)A. Gomboc(University of Ljubljana)A. Gómez(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)E. Grux(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)A. Gueguen(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)A. Heyrovsky(Royal Observatory)J. Hoar(European Space Astronomy Centre)G. Iannicola(Astronomical Observatory of Rome)Y. Isasi Parache(Universitat de Barcelona)A.-M. Janotto(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)E. Joliet(California Institute of Technology)A. Jonckheere(Royal Observatory of Belgium)R. Keil(University of Bremen)Dae Won Kim(Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)P. Klagyivik(Konkoly Observatory)Jochen Klar(Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam)J. Knude(University of Copenhagen)O. Kochukhov(Uppsala University)И. Колка(Tartu Observatory)J. Kos(The University of Sydney)A. Kutka(Czech Academy of Sciences, Astronomical Institute)V. Lainey(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)D. Lebouquin(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)Chao Liu(Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)D. Loreggia(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)В. В. Макаров(United States Naval Observatory)M. G. Marseille(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)C. Martayan(Royal Observatory of Belgium)O. Martinez-Rubi(Universitat de Barcelona)B. Massart(Airbus (France))Frédéric Meynadier(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)Shan Mignot(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)U. Munari(Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova)A.-T. Nguyen(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)Thomas Nordlander(Uppsala University)Pierre Ocvirk(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)K. S. O’Flaherty(European Space Research and Technology Centre)A. Olias Sanz(European Space Astronomy Centre)P. Ortiz(University of Leicester)J. Osorio(Universidade do Porto)Dagmara Oszkiewicz(University of Helsinki)A. Ouzounis(Royal Observatory)M. Palmer(Universitat de Barcelona)P. Park(University of Geneva)E. Pasquato(Université Libre de Bruxelles)C. Peltzer(University of Cambridge)J. Peralta(Universitat de Barcelona)F. Péturaud(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)T. Pieniluoma(University of Helsinki)E. PigozziJ. Poels(University of Liège)G. Prat(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)T. Prod’homme(Leiden University)F. Raison(Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)José M. Rebordão(University of Lisbon)D. Rísquez(Leiden University)B. Rocca‐Volmerange(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)S. Rosen(University of Leicester)M. I. Ruiz-Fuertes(University of Geneva)F. Russo(Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino)S. Sembay(University of Leicester)I. Serraller Vizcaino(GMV Innovating Solutions (Spain))A. Short(European Space Research and Technology Centre)A. Siebert(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)Humberto Farias Da Silva(Uninova)D. Sinachopoulos(National Observatory of Athens)E. Slezak(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)M. Söffel(Technische Universität Dresden)D. Sosnowska(University of Geneva)V. Straižys(Vilnius University)M. ter Linden(European Space Astronomy Centre)D. Terrell(Southwest Research Institute)Stephan Theil(Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR))C. Tiede(Munich University of Applied Sciences)L. Troisi(University of Rome Tor Vergata)P. Tsalmantza(Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)D. Tur(Consorci de Serveis Universitaris de Catalunya)M. Vaccari(Istituto di Radioastronomia di Bologna)F. Vachier(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)Pola Valles(Universitat de Barcelona)W. Van Hamme(Florida International University)L. Veltz(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)Jenni Virtanen(University of Helsinki)J.-M. Wallut(Centre National d'Études Spatiales)R. Wichmann(Universität Hamburg)M. I. Wilkinson(University of Leicester)H. Ziaeepour(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)S. Zschocke(Technische Universität Dresden)

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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.

Astro and Planetary Science Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies Planetary Science and ExplorationPayload (computing)SpacecraftScientific instrumentPhysicsProject commissioningAeronauticsRemote sensingAstronomyComputer sciencePublishing