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A new study has revealed the narrow width of Earth's bow shock - only 17 kilometres across - and sheds new light on particle injection mechanisms in cosmic accelerators. |
| Cluster reveals Earth's bow shock is r... |
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[06/09/2011]
Bright auroral displays are caused by a phenomenon known as a geomagnetic substorm, but the origin of these substorms has been debated for decades. New computer simulations, allied to analysis of data from ESA's Cluster spacecraft, are now filling in many of the missing pieces in the puzzle. |
| Ultrafast substorm auroras explained |
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[04/07/2011]
New insights into the processes that modify high speed plasma flows, or jets, have been provided by rare in situ measurements of these streams of ionised particles, made by the four Cluster spacecraft. |
| Cluster observes jet braking and plasm... |
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[01/02/2011]
Cluster is providing new insights into the processes that generate Earth's auroras (and those of other planets). Flying in formation above the planet's poles, the spacecraft are gathering the first multi-point observations of auroral nurseries. |
| First results of Cluster's auroral acc... |
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[07/01/2011]
European scientists have used observations from ESA's Cluster and Venus Express spacecraft to improve models of the interaction of Earth and Venus with the solar wind. This has implications for understanding the effects of charged particles on orbiting spacecraft. |
| ESA spacecraft model magnetic boundaries |
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| The four Cluster satellites
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| LAUNCH DATES: |
16-Jul-2000 12:39 UT and 09-Aug-2000 11:13 UT
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| MISSION END: | 31 December 2014 (extended mission), subject to a mid-term review in 2012 |
| LAUNCH VEHICLE: | 2 Russian Soyuz launchers, each with a Fregat upper stage. |
| LAUNCH MASS: | 4800 kg |
| MISSION PHASE: |
Operational |
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Elliptical polar orbit, period: 57 hours
Perigee: 19 000 km, apogee: 119 000 km |
The four Cluster spacecraft are providing a detailed three-dimensional map of the magnetosphere, with surprising results |
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Cluster is currently investigating the Earth's magnetic environment and its interaction with the solar wind in three dimensions. Science output from Cluster greatly advances our knowledge of space plasma physics, space weather and the Sun-Earth connection and has been key in improving the modeling of the magnetosphere and understanding its various physical processes. |
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