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Mission Images
Cluster overview
 
Cluster logo
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Credits: ESA
 
 
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Launch vehicle rollout
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Baikonur, 12 July 2000

Credits: ESA
 
 
Soyuz launcher on the launch pad
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The launcher on its umbilical mast is erected from horizontal to vertical position. Baikonur, 6 August 2000.

Credits: ESA
 
 
Liftoff  for  first pair of Cluster satellites
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Baikonur, 16 July 2000.

Credits: ESA
 
 
Artist's impression of Fregat carrying two Cluster spacecraft in
The paired Cluster satellites were delivered into their preliminary parking orbit by the Fregat upper stage of the Soyuz launcher.

Credits: Starsem
 
 
Large waves rock regions of the magnetosphere
Our planet is surrounded by a magnetic shield - the magnetosphere - which protects the Earth from most of the charged particles that are blasted across interplanetary space by explosions of the Sun.

In this image, the four Cluster spacecraft are flying in tetrahedral formation in the vicinity of the magnetopause - the outer boundary of the magnetosphere. Here, one spacecraft (right) is still inside the magnetic field, one (centre) is at the undulating magnetopause and the other two have passed into interplanetary space.

Events such as this will take place on a regular basis over the next two years. By comparing data from each member of the Cluster quartet, scientists are gathering the first detailed, three-dimensional views of the most important regions in the magnetosphere.

See also an animation illustrating how the four Cluster spacecraft can measure different parts of the waves as they move through the magnetopause.

Credits: ESA. Illustration by Medialab.

 
  Mission
 
Artist's impression of Cluster
Flying in formation around the Earth, they relay detailed information about how solar wind affects our planet in 3D. The satellites are called Rumba, Salsa, Samba and Tango.

Credits: ESA
 
  Last update: 31 August 2010 
 
More about...
Cluster factsheet
Related articles
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Related links
Cluster
 
 
 
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