DANDE

DANDE

USA

Spacecraft Nº:

US spacecraft Nº:

DANDE= Drag and Atmospheric Neutral Density Explorer - Also called: Nanosat 4B

Launched together with: CASSIOPE 1 - CUSat 1 - CUSat 2 - POPACS 1 - POPACS 2 - POPACS 3

Prime manufacturer	University of Colorado at Boulder (CU)
Platform
Operator	University of Colorado at Boulder (CU)
Mass at launch	50 kg
Dry Mass	kg
Basic shape
Dimension (m)
Equipment
Solar array	None, Solar cells
Stabilization
Propulsion	None
DC power
Design lifetime	1.5 yrs

DANDE (Drag and Atmospheric Neutral Density Explorer) is a low-cost satellite which makes in-situ measurements of the neutral atmosphere at altitudes of 200 - 350 km is being developed at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) as a part of the Air Force sponsored University Nanosat Program. Neutral density, composition, and wind measurements are increasingly needed to further scientific understanding of the upper atmosphere.
This is a 50 kg spherical spacecraft developed by students at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The goal of the DANDE mission is to provide an improved understanding of the satellite drag environment in the lower-thermosphere.
DANDE is the first spacecraft to be specifically designed to measure winds, drag, and number densities simultaneously. These measurements will reduce the uncertainty in drag-deduced density values especially during storms when in-track winds can contribute significantly to spacecraft drag. To accomplish this, DANDE will carry a novel drag measuring system as well as a Wind and Temperature Spectrometer which will characterize the horizontal wind vector. The project is a joint venture between Colorado Space Grant Consortium and the Aerospace Engineering Sciences department wherein students design and build the hardware under the mentorship of faculty, government and industry advisors.

DANDE, the Drag and Atmospheric Neutral Density Explorer, is a payload from the University of Colorado. The 38 kg sphere carries a particle spectrometer to measure the outer atmosphere wind speed and direction, and a drag measurement system. It is attached to an 8 kg Lightband adapter which will be jettisoned later.
The DANDE satellite's lightband adapter bracket was jettisoned from it on Oct 30, 2013 (and cataloged as 2013-055AC). DANDE can now begin its atmospheric density studies.

Ref.: #7(JR687-688), #14, #228, #242 - update: 12.12.13