Cluster satellites,artwork. The Cluster satellites were launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) to study the Earth's magnetosphere (magnetic field). This magnetic field is shown as the white arcs in the background,with the Earth at lower right. There are four satellites in the Cluster fleet (one partially seen at top left),and they are aligned in a tetrahedral formation. The initial Cluster satellites were lost when the launch rocket failed in 1996. The second set of Cluster satellites launched in 2000. Their orbit is elliptical,ranging in distance from the Earth from 4 to 20 times the Earth's radius. The mission has been extended three times,most recently until the end of 2009 | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / Landmann, Patrick |
Bildgröße: | 5198 px × 3425 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |