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| Cluster & Double Star: 1000 publications |
| The Cluster and Double Star missions have reached the milestone of 1000 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals. After almost nine years in space, the four Cluster spacecraft, which are still in good health, continue to produce new science and cross new regions of space. Last year, 2008, produced the most publications in a single year since launch. |
| Date: 18 Jun 2009 |
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| Monitoring the impact of extreme solar events |
| Combined observations with six spacecraft have allowed scientists to monitor in detail the impact of extreme solar events on the Earth. The study, based on data from four Cluster and two Double Star spacecraft, demonstrated that the typical ion composition observed in the near-Earth environment was drastically modified by extreme solar events and that the magnetosphere became extremely compressed. In situ observations of such changes provide vital information for models of our near-Earth environment where commercial and military spacecraft orbit. |
| Date: 29 Apr 2009 |
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| The first Sino-European satellite completes its mission |
| In the early morning on 14 October, the Double Star TC-1 satellite, the first scientific spacecraft built and operated by the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA), returned to Earth after completing its designed orbit lifetime. Operated together with its twin TC-2 and the four satellites of the ESA Cluster mission, TC-1 has been a highly successful scientific mission. It re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and disintegrated during its descent. |
| Date: 16 Oct 2007 |
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| Cluster and Double Star pinpoint the source of bright aurorae |
| Colourful aurorae and perturbations of GPS signals are just some of the effects of a magnetospheric phenomenon known as a magnetic substorm. Up to now, the onset of this phenomenon has been explained by two competing models: current disruption and near-Earth reconnection. A new study published 20 January 2007 in Geophysical Research Letters challenges this binary vision of substorm onset. Thanks to simultaneous measurements performed by the four satellites of the ESA/NASA Cluster mission and the CNSA/ESA Double star mission, a third type of substorm onset is now suggested. |
| Date: 11 Sep 2007 |
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| Cluster and Double Star pinpoint the source of bright aurorae |
| Colourful aurorae and perturbations of GPS signals are just some of the effects of a magnetospheric phenomenon known as a magnetic substorm. Up to now, the onset of this phenomenon has been explained by two competing models: current disruption and near-Earth reconnection. A new study published 20 January 2007 in Geophysical Research Letters challenges this binary vision of substorm onset. Thanks to simultaneous measurements performed by the four satellites of the ESA/NASA Cluster mission and the CNSA/ESA Double star mission, a third type of substorm onset is now suggested. |
| Date: 11 Sep 2007 |
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| Double Star Mission Extension |
| On 8 November 2006, the Science Programme Committee (SPC) of the European Space Agency (ESA) has approved a 9 months extension of ESA involvement in the Double Star Programme (DSP) operations from 1 January 2007 to 30 September 2007. |
| Date: 09 Nov 2006 |
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| Double Star and Cluster witness pulsated reconnection for several hours |
| Using coordinated observations of the CNSA/ESA Double Star and ESA/NASA Cluster missions, a team of European and US scientists reveals new features of magnetic reconnection at the Earth's magnetopause. These results improve our knowledge on how, where and under which conditions the solar wind manages to penetrate the Earth's magnetic shield on the flank of the magnetosphere. |
| Date: 03 Oct 2006 |
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| Double Star and Cluster witness pulsated reconnection for several hours |
| Using coordinated observations of the CNSA/ESA Double Star and ESA/NASA Cluster missions, a team of European and US scientists reveals new features of magnetic reconnection at the Earth's magnetopause. These results improve our knowledge on how, where and under which conditions the solar wind manages to penetrate the Earth's magnetic shield on the flank of the magnetosphere. |
| Date: 03 Oct 2006 |
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| Cluster and Double Star discover density holes in the solar wind |
| Based on recent observations by the Cluster and the Double Star TC-1 satellites, a team of American, European and Chinese scientists have discovered the presence of ion density holes in the solar wind, upstream of the Earth's bow shock, of thousands kilometers in size. More than 140 of such density holes were found, always observed with upstream particles (propagating against the solar wind flow), suggesting that backstreaming energetic particles interacting with the solar wind are important. |
| Date: 20 Jun 2006 |
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| Cluster and Double Star discover density holes in the solar wind |
| Based on recent observations by the Cluster and the Double Star TC-1 satellites, a team of American, European and Chinese scientists have discovered the presence of ion density holes in the solar wind, upstream of the Earth's bow shock, of thousands kilometers in size. More than 140 of such density holes were found, always observed with upstream particles (propagating against the solar wind flow), suggesting that backstreaming energetic particles interacting with the solar wind are important. |
| Date: 20 Jun 2006 |
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| Cluster and Double Star reveal the extent of neutral sheet oscillations |
| For the first time, neutral sheet oscillations observed simultaneously at tens of thousands kilometres distance are reported, thanks to observations by 5 satellites of the Cluster and the Double Star Program missions. Published 8 November 2005 in Annales Geophysicae, this new observational first provides further constraint to model this large-scale phenomenon in the magnetotail. |
| Date: 30 Mar 2006 |
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| Double Star and Cluster observe first evidence of crustal cracking |
| On 27 December 2004, radiation from the biggest starquake on a neutron star ever recorded reached Earth. Unique data obtained by Double Star TC-2 and Cluster satellites enabled a group of European scientists to find the first observational evidence of cracks in the neutron star crust, during the initial phase of the starquake. This result, published 16 June 2005 in the Astrophysical Journal, dicriminates between current theories on the physical origin of such massive starquakes. |
| Date: 21 Sep 2005 |
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| Double Star and Cluster observe first evidence of crustal cracking |
| On 27 December 2004, radiation from the biggest starquake on a neutron star ever recorded reached Earth. Unique data obtained by Double Star TC-2 and Cluster satellites enabled a group of European scientists to find the first observational evidence of cracks in the neutron star crust, during the initial phase of the starquake. This result, published 16 June 2005 in the Astrophysical Journal, dicriminates between current theories on the physical origin of such massive starquakes. |
| Date: 21 Sep 2005 |
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| Double Star mission extension approved by ESA |
| On 10 May 2005, the ESA Science Programme Committee (SPC) approved the extension of the Double Star mission for a period of 17 months, pushing back the end date from July 2005 to December 2006. |
| Date: 12 May 2005 |
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| Report on Second Double Star - Cluster Workshop |
| The second Double Star Cluster workshop took place on 8-10 November 2004 in the Centre for Space and Applied Research (CSSAR) in Beijing. More than 70 scientists from China, Europe, Russia and USA gathered to discuss the first results of the Double Star mission. |
| Date: 22 Nov 2004 |
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| First Data from the Double Star Mission Accessible Online |
We are happy to announce that the first data from the Double Star mission
are accessible on line.
The Double Star Science Data System (DSDS) is an integral part of the
Double Star Mission to the Earth's magnetosphere. |
| Date: 13 Aug 2004 |
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| Second Double Star satellite successfully launched |
| Yesterday, 25 July at 07:05 UT (15:05 local time) the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) successfully launched TC-2, the second of two scientific satellites known as Double Star. This marks the next important milestone in this joint scientific collaboration between China and the European Space Agency (ESA). |
| Date: 26 Jul 2004 |
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| First Double Star Satellite Launched |
| This evening, the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) successfully launched TC-1, the first of two scientific satellites known as Double Star.
The spacecraft, called Tan Ce 1, which in Chinese means Explorer 1, took off from the Chinese launch base in Xichang, in Sichuan province, on board a Long March 2C launcher.
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| Date: 29 Dec 2003 |
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| Postponed launch for "TC-1" (Double Star-1) |
| During the general inspection process for the Long March 2 C-SM launcher, a malfunction appeared in the detach mechanism for the launcher's solid booster, which required to be replaced. The unit was exchanged and the system successfully tested. The S/C has been mated with the upper stage engine on the evening of 23 December, and the composite has been enclosed in the fairing again. The composite has been re-installed on the top of the rocket in the morning of Dec 24 and a Flight Simulation Test (FST) with all scientific payload has been completed in the afternoon. This test has been supported by all European Experimenters, who had to interrupt their family preparations for Christmas Eve. Using Internet Messenger and on-line data distribution, the FGM PI being available from South Africa, all PIs confirmed the proper functioning of the scientific instruments and the successful completion of the FST. The spacecraft and launcher are now ready for launch. The launch will take place on 29 December 19:06 UT. |
| Date: 25 Dec 2003 |
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| Double Star ready for shipment to launch pad |
| The Chinese National Space Agency (CNSA) and ESA declared the first of the two Double Star spacecraft (TC-1) ready to be shipped to the launch pad. |
| Date: 21 Nov 2003 |
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