Cluster II (spacecraft)

<p>Cluster II was a space mission of the <a href="/facts/European_Space_Agency/L8YRNV0C">European Space Agency</a>, with <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a> participation, to study the <a href="/facts/Earth/HLLmDfj0">Earth</a>'s <a href="/facts/Magnetosphere/BXzgPoPy">magnetosphere</a> over the course of nearly two <a href="/facts/Solar_cycle/QrP4Egea">solar cycles</a>. The mission was composed of four identical spacecraft flying in a <a href="/facts/Tetrahedron/7mkSrl6j">tetrahedral</a> formation. As a replacement for the original <a href="/facts/Cluster_(spacecraft)/5gT3oNg9">Cluster</a> spacecraft which were lost in a launch failure in 1996, the four Cluster II spacecraft were successfully launched in pairs in July and August 2000 onboard two <a href="/facts/Soyuz-Fregat/cGMjYIPX">Soyuz-Fregat</a> <a href="/facts/Rocket/b6j4keIl">rockets</a> from <a href="/facts/Baikonur/Axz7dYJq">Baikonur</a>, <a href="/facts/Kazakhstan/Vfs8NI6e">Kazakhstan</a>. In February 2011, Cluster II celebrated 10 years of successful scientific operations in space. In February 2021, Cluster II celebrated 20 years of successful scientific operations in space. As of March 2023, its mission was extended until September 2024. The <a href="/facts/China_National_Space_Administration/q3s4bGYt">China National Space Administration</a>/ESA <a href="/facts/Double_Star_mission/vlyJ1rMT">Double Star mission</a> operated alongside Cluster II from 2004 to 2007.
</p><p>The first of the satellites of Cluster II to re-enter the atmosphere did so on 8 September 2024. The remaining three are expected to follow in 2025 and 2026. The scientific payload operations of all satellites ended as the first satellite re-entered the atmosphere (other flight operations are still being performed with the remaining flying satellites until the satellites have all re-entered).
</p>

Cluster II (spacecraft) open-in-new

Cluster II (spacecraft)