Astronomy and Space

Cluster II (spacecraft)

Cluster II was a space mission of the European Space Agency, with NASA participation, to study the Earth's magnetosphere over the course of nearly two solar cycles. The mission was composed of four identical spacecraft flying in a tetrahedral formation. As a replacement for the original Cluster 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 Soyuz-Fregat rockets from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. 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 the end of September 2024. The China National Space Administration/ESA Double Star mission operated alongside Cluster II from 2004 to 2007. The first of the four Cluster II satellites to re-enter the atmosphere over the Pacific ocean did so on 8 September 2024 and the second one on 22 October 2025. Third one followed 31 August 2026. The remaining one disintegrated on 01 September 2026. The scientific payload operations of all satellites ended as the first satellite re-entered the atmosphere (other flight operations were still being performed with the remaining flying satellites until the satellites all re-entered).

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See also

• ▸110 Virginis
• ▸Aldwych
• ▸2020

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