| Names | Tan Ce (Explorer) |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Earth observation |
| Operator | CNSA · ESA |
| COSPAR ID | 2003-061A (TC-1) 2004-029A (TC-2) |
| SATCATno. | 28140 (TC-1) 28382 (TC-2) |
| Website | ESA website(archive) |
| Mission duration | 3 years, 9 months, 15 days (TC-1) In Orbit: 21 years, 3 months and 29 days (TC-2) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 29 December 2003 (2003-12-29), 19:06 UTC (TC-1) 25 July 2004 (2004-07-25), 07:05 UTC (TC-2) |
| Rocket | Long March 2C |
| Launch site | Xichang Satellite Launch Center Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Deorbited (TC-1) |
| Decay date | 14 October 2007 (2007-10-14) (TC-1) |
 ESA quadrilateral mission insignia for theDouble Star mission. | |
Double Star was a jointsatellite based space mission by theChina National Space Administration (CNSA) and theEuropean Space Agency (ESA). It was the first space mission launched by China to investigateEarth'smagnetosphere. It consisted of two satellites: an Equatorial satellite (TC-1) and Polar satellite (TC-2). Double Star followed in the footsteps of ESA'sCluster mission by studying the effects of the Sun on the Earth's environment. After a nominal mission of one year (from the launch of TC-2 in July 2004), the Double Star mission was extended twice by both agencies until the end of September 2007.[1]
The Double Star mission used two satellites in Earth orbit - each designed, developed, launched, and operated by theChina National Space Administration. ESA has agreed to contribute 8 million Euros to the Double Star programme. This funding was used for refurbishment and pre-integration of the European instruments, acquisition of data for four hours per day and co-ordination of scientific operations. This schedule enabled Double Star to operate simultaneously with ESA'sCluster mission.
The first equatorial spacecraft (Double Star 1, also known asDoubleStar1,Tan Ce 1, Chinese forExplorer 1,TC-1) was launched by aLong March 2C launch vehicle on December 29, 2003, at 19:06 UTC. Its purpose was to investigate Earth's huge 'magnetotail', the region where particles are accelerated towards the planet's magnetic poles by a process known as 'reconnection'.
The second polar spacecraft (Double Star 2, also known asDoubleStar2,Explorer 2,Tan Ce 2,TC-2) was launched July 25, 2004 at 07:05 UTC, also by aLong March 2C. It focuses on physical processes taking place over the magnetic poles and the development ofaurorae.
The mission formally ended on October 14, 2007, when the TC-1 spacecraft re-entered the Earth's atmosphere after being decommissioned (an unavoidable consequence of its equatorial orbit). The TC-2 spacecraft and payload continued to operate until late 2008, when contact was lost.[2]
TC-1 was launched into an equatorial elliptical orbit of 570 x 78 970 km with inclination 28.5° to the equator from theXichang Satellite Launch Center. This apogee of this mission was the deepest into space China had ever sent a spacecraft at that time.
The TC-2 spacecraft was launched into a polar elliptical orbit of 700 x 39 000 km, inclination 90° to the equator fromTaiyuan Satellite Launch Center.
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