Double Star (satellite)

Double Star denotes a Chinese space mission with the participation of the European Space Agency to investigate the terrestrial magnetic field and its interaction with the solar wind. The Chinese name of the satellite is Tan Ce.

The mission consists of two satellites. TC -1 ( Tan Ce 1) has been associated with an inclination of 28.5 ° on 29 December 2003 from the Xichang space center in an elliptical orbit ( perigee 550 km, apogee of 66,970 km above the earth's surface ), TC- 2 was born on 25 July 2004 from the spaceport Taiyuan into a polar elliptical orbit ( perigee 700 km, apogee 39,000 km ) accommodated. Both satellites were launched with a rocket of the type Long March 2C. On 14 October 2007, TC-1 shut down after its intended life is reached and then burns up in the atmosphere.

The Double Star satellites have 8 Chinese instruments and 8 instruments on board the ESA, of which 7 are duplicates of instruments of the Cluster satellites. With their help, succeeded in the detection of super hot gas bubbles at the shock front between the Earth's magnetic field and solar wind, as well as their origin, development and disappearance.

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