Cluster II (spacecraft)
Artist's impression of the Cluster constellation.
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| Mission type | Magnetospheric research |
|---|---|
| Operator | ESA with NASA collaboration |
| COSPAR ID |
FM6 (SALSA): 2000-041A FM7 (SAMBA): 2000-041B FM5 (RUMBA): 2000-045A FM8 (TANGO): 2000-045B |
| SATCAT no. |
FM6 (SALSA): 26410 FM7 (SAMBA): 26411 FM5 (RUMBA): 26463 FM8 (TANGO): 26464 |
| Website | http://sci.esa.int/cluster |
| Mission duration | planned: 5 years elapsed: 16 years, 6 months and 11 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Astrium |
| Launch mass | 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) |
| Dry mass | 550 kg (1,210 lb) |
| Payload mass | 71 kg (157 lb) |
| Dimensions | 2.9 m × 1.3 m (9.5 ft × 4.3 ft) |
| Power | 224 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date |
FM6: 16 July 2000, 12:39 UTC FM7: 16 July 2000, 12:39 UTC FM5: 09 August 2000, 11:13 UTC FM8: 09 August 2000, 11:13 UTC |
| Rocket | Soyuz-U/Fregat |
| Launch site | Baikonur 31/6 |
| Contractor | Starsem |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Elliptical Orbit |
| Perigee |
FM6: 16,118 km (10,015 mi) FM7: 16,157 km (10,039 mi) FM5: 16,022 km (9,956 mi) FM8: 12,902 km (8,017 mi) |
| Apogee |
FM6: 116,740 km (72,540 mi) FM7: 116,654 km (72,485 mi) FM5: 116,786 km (72,567 mi) FM8: 119,952 km (74,535 mi) |
| Inclination |
FM6: 135 degrees FM7: 135 degrees FM5: 138 degrees FM8: 134 degrees |
| Period |
FM6: 3259 minutes FM7: 3257 minutes FM5: 3257 minutes FM8: 3258 minutes |
| Epoch | 13 March 2014, 11:15:07 UTC |
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ESA solar system insignia for the Cluster II mission
Cluster II is a space mission of the European Space Agency, with NASA participation, to study the Earth's magnetosphere over the course of nearly two solar cycles. The mission is composed of four identical spacecraft flying in a tetrahedral formation. As a replacement for the original Cluster spacecraft which were lost in a launch failure in 1996, the four Cluster II spacecraft were successfully launched in pairs in July and August 2000 onboard two Soyuz-Fregat rockets from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. In February 2011, Cluster II celebrated 10 years of successful scientific operations in space. The mission has been extended until December 2016. China National Space Administration/ESA Double Star mission operated alongside Cluster II from 2004 to 2007.
The four identical Cluster II satellites study the impact of the Sun's activity on the Earth's space environment by flying in formation around Earth. For the first time in space history, this mission is able to collect three-dimensional information on how the solar wind interacts with the magnetosphere and affects near-Earth space and its atmosphere, including aurorae.
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