The Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment 2 (ANDE-2) satellite suite designed by the Naval Research Laboratory is deployed from space shuttle Endeavour. The ANDE-2 suite consists of two spherical satellites to monitor atmospheric density and to improve methods for placing space objects in low Earth orbit. (Photo courtesy NASA/Released)By Donna McKinney, Naval Research Laboratory Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Naval Research Laboratory's satellite suite, the Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment 2 (ANDE-2), was deployed from NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour July 30.
The ANDE-2 satellite suite consists of two nearly perfectly spherical micro-satellites with instrumentation to perform two interrelated mission objectives. The first objective is to monitor the total atmospheric density in order to improve methods of accurately tracking space objects. The second is to provide a test object for both radar and optical U.S. Space Surveillance Network sensors.
ANDE-2 is a low-cost mission designed to study the atmosphere of the Earth from low-Earth orbit by monitoring total atmospheric density between 300 and 400 km altitude. ANDE-2 data will be used to improve methods for tracking the orbit of space objects and to calibrate the Space Fence, a radar space surveillance system belonging to the Air Force 20th Space Control Squadron, a principal resource for tracking low-Earth orbiting space satellites.