Cluster (satellite mission)
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Artist's concept of four Cluster II satellites in space. Credit: ESA
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An ESA (European Space Agency) mission involving four identical satellites – Salsa, Samba, Tango, and Rumba – which fly in formation to study the interaction between the solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere in three dimensions. Each satellite carries a suite of 11 instruments that measure electric and magnetic fields, electrons, protons, and ions, and plasma waves. The Cluster I satellites were lost following the explosion of their Ariane 5 launch vehicle on its maiden flight on Jun. 4, 1996. (Re-use of flight software from Ariane 4 was found to be the cause of the accident – faulty program logic that only took effect on Ariane 5's launch trajectory.) Cluster II is a repeat of the original mission and uses some of its spare parts.
| launch dates |
Jul. 16, 2000 (Salsa, Samba);
Aug. 9, 2000 (Tango, Rumba) |
| launch vehicle |
Soyuz Fregat |
| launch site |
Baikonur |
| orbit |
25,000 × 125,000 km × 65° |
| mass (each) |
1,200 kg |
Related category
• SATELLITES AND SPACE PROBES
Also on this site:
Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living
Encyclopedia of History
Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site)
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