It was announced by Commission of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND) on June 24, 2004 that the performance of TC-2 satellite (polar orbit satellite) of Geospace Double Star Exploration Program (DSP) and LM-2C/SM launch vehicle meet the designed requirements and are carrying out the launch mission by the end of July as scheduled.

DSP is to explore the geospace environment with the two satellites which are deployed in different orbits. It is composed of TC-1 satellite (near-earth equatorial satellite), launched at the end of last year, and TC-2 satellite which has been examined and approved. TC-1 and TC-2 will be deployed in the region of space surrounding the Earth which hasn't been detected by other exploration satellites in the world so far.

TC-2 satellite is the first civilian satellite to be sent into space in China this year. The successful launch of TC-1 made the record for LM-2C to conduct 22 consecutive successful missions. The launch of TC-2 will be the 77th mission for the LM series launch vehicle which has conducted 34 consecutive successful missions since 1996.

All the systems onboard have been working normally since TC-1 was launched in October 2003. In the past four months, the apogee of TC-1 has been in near-equator region facing the sun and TC-1 has gained large quantities of exploration data.

DSP is the first joint mission for scientific satellite exploration between China and Europe. After its launching, TC-2 and TC-1 on orbit will make double-star detection come true. DSP will cooperate with Cluster of ESA to conduct the first six-point solid exploration for geospace in human history.

Mr. Sun Laiyan, the vice minister of COSTIND and administrator of China National Space Administration (CNSA), pointed out that this mission has such great significance that all the efforts should be put forth to ensure the success of the launch . The successful launch of TC-2 and its normal operation are the guarantee for carrying out Chinese scientists' concept on DSP. DSP cannot cooperate with Cluster of ESA to conduct the first six-point solid exploration for geospace and the scientists will not gain the expected data until TC-2 is successfully put into orbit. Meanwhile, the successful launch of TC-2 and its normal operation will prove the ability and level of the development of scientific exploration satellites and pave the broader way for the development of China's space science and international cooperation.

The successful DSP will promote the development of China's space science, increase the knowledge and forecast ability of geospace environment and promote the development of China's space exploration technology.