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Heliophysics Science Division
Operational

Cluster

The NASA/European Space Agency (ESA) Cluster mission was the first to deploy four identical spacecraft flying in formation to conduct three-dimensional studies of the interaction between Earth's magnetosphere and the "solar wind" of charged particles streaming off the sun. Science output from Cluster greatly advances our knowledge of space plasma physics, space weather, and the sun-Earth connection, and has been key in improving the modeling of the magnetosphere and understanding its various physical processes. The quartet of spacecraft went into orbit in two launches, in July and August 2000.

Launch Date

July 2000

Class

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Websites


Instrument

The NASA/European Space Agency (ESA) Cluster mission was the first to deploy four identical spacecraft flying in formation to conduct three-dimensional studies of the interaction between Earth's magnetosphere and the "solar wind" of charged particles streaming off the sun. Science output from Cluster greatly advances our knowledge of space plasma physics, space weather, and the sun-Earth connection, and has been key in improving the modeling of the magnetosphere and understanding its various physical processes. The quartet of spacecraft went into orbit in two launches, in July and August 2000.

Related Publications

2025. "Multimission Observations of Relativistic Electrons and High-speed Jets Linked to Shock-generated Transients.", The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 981 (1): L10 [10.3847/2041-8213/adb154] [Journal Article/Letter]

2025. "First Detection of Low-frequency Striae in Interplanetary Type III Radio Bursts.", The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 985 (2): L27 [10.3847/2041-8213/add688] [Journal Article/Letter]

2024. "Unveiling the journey of a highly inclined CME.", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 684 (A90): 17 [10.1051/0004-6361/202347083] [Journal Article/Letter]

2019. "The Space Physics Environment Data Analysis System (SPEDAS).", Space Science Reviews, 215 (1): 9 [10.1007/s11214-018-0576-4] [Journal Article/Letter]

2021. "Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability Associated With Reconnection and Ultra Low Frequency Waves at the Ground: A Case Study.", Frontiers in Physics, 9 [10.3389/fphy.2021.738988] [Journal Article/Letter]