The largest and most powerful space telescope will be launched this month in a tandem mission that promises to transform understanding of the origins of the Universe and the birth of its stars and galaxies.

The Herschel space observatory will blast off from Kourou, French Guiana, on May 14 aboard a European Ariane-5 rocket that will also carry the Planck spacecraft. The twin probes will collect the most detailed information yet gathered about the formation and evolution of the cosmos.

Herschel, which will look at infrared radiation emitted by galaxies, stars, planets and comets, has a mirror of 3.5m (11ft) in diameter that will observe with unprecedented detail and accuracy. The Hubble space telescope’s mirror is 2.5m in diameter.

Herschel will examine the dust ejected by dying stars that spreads the heavy elements necessary for life through the Universe and will analyse the composition of comets and planets in our solar system. Planck will research an even more elemental aspect of astronomy: the period immediately after the Big Bang.

“We’re going to collect the most detailed information ever on the birth of the Universe,” said Professor Richard Holdaway, of the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council, which has invested £30 million in the two missions.

The total cost is estimated at €1.9 billion (£1.7 billion).

“Herschel is going to look at the early stage of star growth and galaxy formation. Planck will allow us to travel back right to the beginning of time, 14 billion years ago,” Professor Holdaway said.

About half an hour after the launch, Herschel will separate from its parent rocket, followed a couple of minutes later by Planck. Both will continue to their destination.

David Southwood, director of science at the European Space Agency, which built the two spacecraft, said that he would be nervous when the rocket went up. “Please, if you have any religion — even superstition will do — please pray for me on the night of May 13 and really remember me in the middle of the afternoon on May 14,” he said. British scientists are heavily involved in both spacecraft.

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