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Double Star is a joint satellite based space mission by the China National Space Administration ( CNSA ) and the European Space Agency ( ESA ).

It is the first space mission launched by China to investigate Earth's magnetosphere.

It consists of two satellites: an Equatorial satellite ( TC-1 ) and Polar satellite ( TC-2 ).

Double Star follows in the footsteps of ESA's Cluster mission by studying the effects of the Sun on the Earth's environment.

After a nominal mission of one year ( from the launch of TC-2 in July 2004 ), the Double Star mission was extended twice by both agencies till the end of September 2007.