ANDE-2 PA (ANDE Active)

Launch data: Designation  35694 / 09038F Launch date  15 Jul 2009 - 22:03 UT Launch site  KSC, SLC-39A Launch vehicle  Shuttle STS-127 Mission  Military: Scientific Research (Atmospheric density) Intermediate LEO orbit on: Perigee / Apogee  328 x 334 km Eccentricity  4.48E-04 Inclination  51.64 deg Period  91.15 min

Description:

• Castor and Pollux are two twin spherical satellites designed by students in cooperation with the Naval Research Laboratory as part of the Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment (ANDE). Both satellites will transmit 1200-baud packet radio telemetry on 145.825 MHz. Hams are encouraged to submit telemetry reports with special QSLs and mission patches planned. Castor and Pollux will carry an FX.25 experiment that adds Forward Error Correction to standard AX.25 packets. The hope is that FX.25 will improve communication efficiency while still being compatible with existing packet equipment. The satellites will also occasionally run GMSK/FX.25 modulation experiments at 9600 baud.

Mission details:

• Active 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.