CLUSTER LAUNCH NEWS

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Launch dates:

The 4 Cluster spacecraft were launched in two sets of two from the Russian Cosmodrome in Baikonur.

• First set: successfully launched July 16, 2000, 14:39 CEST (12:39 UTC)

The RAPID technical manager Wolfgang Güttler attended this launch in Baikonur for the Institute.

See the ESA report on the launch.

 

• July 17: First Cluster apogee burn completed. Report
• July 18: Second apogee raising manoeuvre completed. Report
• July 19: Three of four major engine burns completed. Report
• July 21: Cluster 2 and 3 (aka FM6 and FM 7 or Samba and Salsa) are in final elliptical orbit.
  Report
• Second set: successfully launched August 9, 2000, 13:13 CEST (11:13 UTC)

Institute representation in Baikonur was the RAPID Co-PI, Patrick Daly.

See the ESA report on the launch.



• August 9: Spacecraft separation recorded with on-board camera. Report
  See GIF Film of separation.
• August 11: Spacecraft 1 and 4 ("Rumba" and "Tango") being prepared for injection into final orbit. Report
• August 14: Status reports from ESOC. Report
• August 14: The Cluster Quartet are together. Report
• August 21: Preparing for Commissioning. Report

Videos

The picture below links to a film (MPG) describing the Cluster spacecraft, construction, transport to Baikonur, with an animated launch.
Size of this file is 22MB.
 

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© 2009, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Lindau

P. W. Daly 08-12-2004

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