D  A  N  D  E

D
rag and Atmospheric Neutral Density Explorer

       

For OperatorsFor EducatorsPublications etc.

 

H O M E

 


EVENTS


DANDE SCHEDULE

 

COSPAR Scientific Assembly
Montreal, Canada
July 13th - 20th

Small Satellite Conference
Proto Qualification Review
Logan, UT
August 11th-15th

 


Overview
  
Drag induced by the neutral-atmosphere density is the major perturbation on satellites in low earth orbit.  True density deviates as much as 20% from model predictions, introducing error into crucial government and private space operations with applications to situational awareness, space surveillance, laser communications, re-entry prediction, rendezvous and proximity ops.  A need exists to measure physical or 'true' density, quantify density variations, and to provide in-situ model calibration data.
   
The Drag and Atmospheric Neutral Density Explorer (DANDE) will be a low-cost density, wind, and composition-measuring satellite that will provide data for the calibration and validation of operational models and improve our understanding of the thermosphere.
    The spacecraft is being designed and built at the Colorado Space Grant Consortium (COSGC) in collaboration with the University of Colorado at Boulder Aerospace Engineering Sciences department, Air Force Space Command - Space Analysis/A9A, and research faculty at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  This effort is sponsored by the University Nanosat Program at the Air Force Research Laboratories.

Quick Links
DANDE Photographs - taken from picture-of-the-week segments of weekly meetings
Microgravity Flight - see DANDE on the KC-135 NASA reduced gravity flight!
National Space Weather Program Strategic Plan - DANDE contributes to the NSWP strategy
UNP INTERNAL SITE - for UNP participants

Contact
Marcin Pilinski,  DANDE Program Manager, 520 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0520