Page 43 - Italy In Space
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Earth Observation [2]
July 18, 2000. Lift-off of Salsa & Samba, the first pair of Cluster II spacecraft, launched from
Baikonur as a replacement for the original Clusters which were lost in a launch failure in 1996.
Commemorative cover cancelled in Baykonur of the day of launch. Commemorative cover cancelled
in blue with the special bilingual Baikonur cancel put in services since 17 Aug. 1996
August 9, 2000. Launch of Rumba & Tango. The four identical spacecraft fly in a tetrahedral
formation to collect three-dimensional information on how the Sun's activity and solar wind interact
with the magnetosphere and affects near-Earth space and its atmosphere, including aurorae. Originally
planned to last until the end of 2003, the mission has now been extended until the end of 2018.
Commemorative cover cancelled in blue with standard bilingual Baikonur cancel, a special “ESA
cluster” non-postal hand stamp is added.
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