Dark Matter Particle Explorer
| Names | Wukong, TanSuo |
|---|---|
| Mission type | High-energy Astronomy |
| Operator | CAS |
| COSPAR ID | 2015-078A |
| SATCAT no. | 41173 |
| Mission duration | 3 years (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Payload mass | 1,400 kg (3,100 lb) |
| Power | 400 W |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 17 December 2015 00:12 UTC |
| Rocket | Long March 2D, No. 2D-Y31 |
| Launch site | Jiuquan Launch Area 4, Launch Pad 603 |
| Contractor | SAST |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Sun-synchronous orbit |
| Peri | 500 km (310 mi) |
| Apo | 500 km (310 mi) |
| Inclination | 97.4° |
| Error: no value specified for required parameter "apsis" | |
| Main Gamma rays | |
| Wavelengths | high energy gamma-ray |
The Dark Matter Particle Explorer, or DAMPE, is a Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) satellite which was launched on 17 December 2015 at 00:12 UTC. The satellite was launched on a Long March 2D rocket from Launch Pad 603 at the LC-43 complex, also known as the South Launch Site, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. It is China's first ever space observatory.
DAMPE is a space telescope used for the detection of high energy gamma rays, electrons and cosmic rays, to aid in the search for dark matter. The project is the result of a collaboration among universities in Italy, Switzerland, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
It is nicknamed Wukong (Chinese: 悟空) after the Monkey King, who is the hero in the classic Chinese tale, "Journey to the West". Literally, "wu"(悟) means comprehension or understanding and "kong"（空）means void, so its name could also be understood as "understand the void", relates to the undiscovered dark matter.
The scientific objectives of the mission are:
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