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Double Star Instrument Commissioning Started
The first Double Star spacecraft was successfully launched from Xichang, Southern China, on 29 December 2003 at 19:06 UT. The final operational orbit is 570 by 78 970 km, with an inclination of 28.5 degrees. Due to an over-performance of the upper stage the apogee is about 12 000 km more than expected. This should not affect the scientific objectives. Furthermore, the spacecraft will now observe the Earth bow shock, which was not in the original scientific objectives. A preliminary estimate reveals that that the number of conjunctions with Cluster has decreased slightly, but this is compensated by the longer time interval for each individual conjunction. Spacecraft Status: One solid boom, carrying the fluxgate magnetometers (FGM), has been deployed successfully. The other one, carrying the search coil (STAFF/DWP), is still un-deployed after an initial attempt to deploy it. Chinese spacecraft engineers are investigating the source of the problem and will make another attempt in the next few weeks. This, however, does not affect the stability of the spacecraft and the spin axis is as expected close to the North ecliptic pole.
Instrument Commissioning started in early January:
STAFF/DWP Both instruments have detected an electromagnetic noise, which is likely related to the boom asymmetry causing solar array shadowing; an investigation is on going to identify the source and try to eliminate it.
PEACE (electron detector)
ASPOC (ion emitter)
HIA (ion detector) In other news ESA can report that all three European experiments are being delivered to Beijing for the second Double Star spacecraft, which will start its integration early February for a launch in July 2004. Related Links Double Star SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Joint Chinese/European Mission Ready For Launch Paris (ESA) Dec 23, 2003 On 27 December, the Chinese National Space Agency (CNSA) will launch the first of two scientific satellites known as Double Star. ESA is contributing to this Double Star mission by providing eight on-board scientific instruments.
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