Mission
DANDE’s mission statement is to explore the spatial and temporal variability of the neutral thermosphere at altitudes between 200 and 350 km (revised to 325-500 km due to a new orbit since the beginning of the project), and investigate how wind and density variability translate to drag forces on satellites. The density of the atmosphere varies greatly due to space weather and other unknown processes. The International Space Station once dropped in height by tens of kilometers in a span of a few days and by understanding drag forces and composition of the atmosphere we can provide better data about this phenomenon.
Mission Objectives
1. Establish and understand the relationship between total mass density, composition, and winds as functions of latitude, level of magnetic activity, and horizontal scale.
2. Establish the relative contributions of density and winds to satellite drag as a function of latitude, level of magnetic activity, and horizontal scale.
3. Demonstrate key technologies for performing in-situ measurements of the orbital drag environment at low cost.
4. Improve understanding of the variation in coefficient of drag in the 325-500 km altitude region.
Read more about this topic: Drag And Atmospheric Neutral Density Explorer
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