This artist's impression depicts Planck against a background image of the Large-scale structure in the Milky Way.
The background image is a three-colour combination constructed from Planck's two highest frequency channels (557 and 857 GHz, corresponding to wavelengths of 540 and 350 micrometres), and an image at the shorter wavelength of 100 micrometres obtained with the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). This Planck image was obtained during the first Planck all-sky survey which began in mid-August 2009. Image credit: ESA

Planck's High Frequency Instrument has finally depleted its cryogens two and a half years after launch. The instrument has generated a wealth of data on the cosmic microwave background and Galactic dust emission that is currently being analysed at KICC.

Paraphrasing the words of Winston Churchill, Professor George Efstathiou, Director of the Kavli Institute for Cosmology and HFI Survey Scientist commented "The demise of the HFI is not the end of Planck. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

Full ESA Press release; Planck's HFI completes its survey of early Universe

Full UK Planck release; Planck HFI mission draws to a close