ANDE-2 AA (ANDE Passive)

ANDE = Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment - Pollux Sphere

Designation	35693 / 09038E
Launch date	15 Jul 2009 - 22:03 UT
Launch site	KSC, SLC-39A
Launch vehicle	Shuttle STS-127
Mission	Military: Scientific Research (Atmospheric density)
Perigee / Apogee	328 x 333 km
Eccentricity	3.73E-04
Inclination	51.64 deg
Period	91.14 min

Prime contractor	Naval Research Laboratory
Platform
Operator	Space Test Program, NASA (Naval Research Laboratory?)
Mass at launch	50 (27?) kg
Dry Mass	kg
Basic shape
Dimension (m)
Solar array
Stabilization
Propulsion	none

Descent date:	29 Mar 2010
Lifetime:

Passive sphere to measure the density and composition of the low Eart orbit atmosphere while being tracked from the ground to better predict the movement and decay of objects in orbit.
On Jul 30, 2009 at 1723:02 UTC the ANDE-2 canister was jettisoned from Endeavour STS-127. At 1723:39 the upper canister separated from the lower and the ANDE Passive satellite separated. At 1723:56 the ANDE center avionics section separated from the lower canister and the ANDE Active satellite separated.
ANDE Active and Passive are also called Castor and Pollux.
This unimaginative name for twin satellites has been used previously for the French D-5A/D-5B satellites in May 1975, which also studied the upper atmosphere.

Ref.: #3(SD449), #7(JR614), #226 - update: 17.11.10