Distributed Atmospheric Neutral Density Explorer (DANDE)
Abstract
The DANDE program has progressed from engineering and test units to near-flight and flight hardware. Significant testing has occurred within the last year including a mass properties test, RF testing, communication system end-to-end testing, mechanism thermal vacuum testing, software performance testing and science instrument tests. For the accelerometer instrument, signal and noise tests have occurred which have successfully demonstrated their filtering and amplification capabilities. The wind and temperature spectrometer has also undergone vacuum chamber testing with an ion source at NASA Goddard and within University of Colorado facilities. These tests have allowed for further refinement of the instrument with both its high voltage components and its firmware. Finally, operational planning has occurred allowing for development of the ground infrastructure to operate DANDE on orbit. The ground station and ground command and data handling systems have developed such that they can transfer data between the DANDE engineering unit and the ground systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 31, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA566220
Entities
People
- Henry J. Pernicka