MISSION NAME
Tan Ce 1 1
Status
Success
DATE
29 DEC 2003
LAUNCH PROVIDER
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Launch Pad
Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1)
Description
The Double Star spacecraft, called also Tan Ce (TC) which in Chinese means ‘Probe‘, is a joint Chinese and ESA mission to study the effect of the Sun on the Earth's environment. The polar spacecraft (TC-2) will monitor the energy input from the solar wind into the polar ionosphere. The equatorial spacecraft (TC-1) will investigate the so-called substorm process, when it is in the Earth's magnetotail, and the entry of solar particle on the front side of the magnetosphere.
Long March 2C/SM
Rocket Description
The Long March 2C is a family of expendable launch vehicles made and operated by China. It is a two stage launch vehicle with storable propellants, consisting of Nitrogen Tetroxide and Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine.