Dark Matter Particle Explorer
Chinese science satellite / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Dark Matter Particle Explorer, or DAMPE, also known as Wukong (Chinese: 悟空), is a Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) satellite which launched on 17 December 2015.[4] The satellite was launched on a Long March 2D rocket from Launch Pad 603 at the LC-43 complex, also known as the South Launch Site, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.[4] It is China's first space observatory.
Names | Wukong,[1] TanSuo[2] |
---|---|
Mission type | High-energy Astronomy |
Operator | CAS |
COSPAR ID | 2015-078A[3] |
SATCAT no. | 41173 |
Mission duration | 3 years (planned)[4] Elapsed: 8 years, 4 months, 9 days |
Spacecraft properties | |
Payload mass | 1,400 kg (3,100 lb)[4] |
Power | 400 W [4] |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 17 December 2015 00:12 UTC |
Rocket | Long March 2D, No. 2D-Y31[5] |
Launch site | Jiuquan Launch Area 4, Launch Pad 603[4] |
Contractor | SAST |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Sun-synchronous orbit |
Periapsis altitude | 500 km (310 mi) [4] |
Inclination | 97.4° |
Main Gamma rays | |
Wavelengths | high energy gamma ray |
DAMPE is a space telescope used for the detection of high energy gamma rays, electrons and cosmic ray ions, to aid in the search for dark matter.[4][6] It was designed to look for the indirect decay signal of a hypothetical dark matter candidate called weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs).[7]
The project is the result of a collaboration among research institutions and universities in Italy, Switzerland and China under the leadership of the Purple Mountain Observatory (PMO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).