HERSCHEL is the fourth cornerstone of the European Spance Agency (ESA) mandatory scientific program. All the french participations developed by the french laboratories are followed up and financed by CNES.

HERSCHEL will perform imaging photometry and spectrometry in the far infrared and submillimetre part of the spectrum, covering approximately the 60-670 µm range.

The scientific objective of the HERSCHEL mission (Herschel Space Observatory) formerly named FIRST (Far InfraRed and Submillimeter Telescope) is :

	the realization of large-band extra-galactic survey to study the formation and the evolution of spiral galaxies,
	the spectroscopic observation of comets and the atmosphere of planets and their satellites,
	the study of physico-chemistry of the interstellar medium to understand star birth,
	the study of astrochemistry of gas and dust to understand the stellar and interstellar material cycle.