Soyuz launch for Cluster II
27 November 1997
The four Cluster II spacecraft are to be launched in two pairs by two Soyuz launchers. A preliminary contract has been signed with Starsem, the French/Russian joint venture handling Soyuz launches.A preliminary contract to provide a detailed mission analysis for the launch of Cluster II has been signed with Starsem - the French/Russian joint venture which procure the Soyuz launch vehicle. A full launch services contract should be ready for signature in mid-1998.
The four Cluster II spacecraft will be launched in two pairs by two Soyuz launchers in mid-2000.
Cluster II replicates the original Cluster mission lost aboard the Ariane-5 demonstration flight in June 1996. The scientific objectives are identical and the payload remains the same.
Last Update: 1 September 2019