ESA Science & Technology: Spacecraft

Spacecraft

Two magnetospheric spacecraft to be built and operated by the Chinese Space Agency (CNSA).
Programme accepted by Chinese government on 28 September 2000.
Cooperation agreement signed between ESA and China on: 9 July 2001.
Equatorial satellite TC-1 (550 x 63 780 kilometres, inclination 28.5^o) launched 29 December 2003.
Polar satellite TC-2 (700 x 39 000 kilometres, inclination 90^o) launched 25 July 2004.

Double Star spacecraft in launch configuration (courtesy Chinese Academy of Space Technology, CAST).

Double Star spacecraft in flight configuration (courtesy Chinese Academy of Space Technology, CAST).

Last Update: 27 Jul 2004