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Second Double Star satellite successfully launched

26 July 2004

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On 25 July at 9:05 CEST (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 is a joint scientific collaboration between China and the European Space Agency (ESA).

The spacecraft, called ‘Tan Ce 2’ which in Chinese means ‘Explorer 2,’ took off from the Chinese launch base in Taiyuan spaceport, west of Beijing (Shanxi Province), on board a Long March 2C launcher.

Credits: CNSA/People's Daily Online

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Double Star and Cluster complementary orbits. The four Cluster spacecraft are in the solar wind and Double Star is crossing the bow shock at the same time.

Credits: ESA

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This mission consists of two satellites, the equatorial satellite DSP-E (Tan Ce 1), following a 550 x 60 000 kilometre orbit, inclined at 28.5 degrees to the Equator and the polar satellite DSP-P (Tan Ce 2) following a 350 x 25 000 kilometre orbit inclined at 90 degrees to the Equator.

Credits: Chinese National Space Administration

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Double Star Cluster Chinese space agency

First Double Star satellite successfully launched