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MAA (ANDE-MAA, NO 61, Navy-OSCAR 61)

FCal (Front) and MAA (back) [USNA]

The Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment (ANDE) Risk Reduction Mission consists of two spherical spacecraft fitted with retro-reflectors for satellite laser ranging (SLR). Two ANDE missions, each with two satellites, were launched from the Space Shuttle in 2006 and 2008 respectively.

This experiment consisted of two micro satellites, the Mock ANDE Active (MAA) spacecraft and the Fence Calibration (FCal) spacecraft, that were launched from the Space Shuttle cargo bay.

The main mission objective of the first mission (ANDE RRM) was to test the deployment mechanism from the shuttle for the ANDE flight in 2008 and to begin preliminary scientific measurements. Scientific objectives of the ANDE missions include monitoring total neutral density along the orbit for improved orbit determination of space objects, monitoring the spin rate and orientation of the spacecraft to better understand in-orbit dynamics, and to provide a test object for polarimetry studies. The mission provided objects in low Earth orbit with well-determined ballistic coefficients and radar cross-sections for comprehensive atmospheric modeling. Each mission included a passive and an active spherical spacecraft in a lead-trail orbit configuration. The passive sphere will be tracked with the Space Surveillance Network (SSN) and SLR to study atmospheric drag and in-track total density. The active sphere had on-board instrumentation to measure atmospheric density and composition. The active sphere monitored its position relative to the passive sphere to study drag models. The active satellite communicated on-board data through a system of modulated retro-reflectors (MRR).

The MAA (Mock ANDE Active) spherical 50 kg satellite was 19 inches in diameter and constructed from two anodized aluminum hemispheres. The hemispheres were formed by spin-casting aluminum. They were then rough machined, heat treated, machine finished, and finally, anodized. The equator of this sphere was constructed from an engineered polymer material that is a durable, lightweight, low-wear, low-friction plastic that acts as a non-conductive separator between the hemispheres. This allows the satellite's shell to perform as a dipole antenna for the communications system developed at the U.S. Naval Academy. The communications system is powered by four battery boxes, which gives the satellite an estimated lifetime of about 1.5 years. The payload is split into the two hemispheres, with two battery banks, a communications box, and the laser driver box stacked in a vertical configuration.

The MAA sphere is painted with a pattern of four 90¼ longitudinal segments, alternating bare black anodized aluminum and gloss white paint. The purpose of this paint scheme is two-fold; to provide an easy visual pattern for observing the initial spin rate and orientation, and to provide means to determine spin rate and orientation from the polarization return to be observed from the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing (AMOS) facility.

Onboard instrumentation for the MAA satellite consists of a set of six CIGS photovoltaic cells that are mounted flush with the surface of the sphere. These light sensors are located at the endpoints of three nearly orthogonal axes and are used for attitude and spin rate determination. Thermistors (thermally-sensitive resistors whose resistance changes with temperature) are placed at several points within the satellite to monitor the temperature of the various components of the satellite. The temperature and photovoltaic voltage values are telemetered to the ground by a "heartbeat" communications system that activates for 2 seconds out of every 20 seconds. If a ground station is detected, the data are transmitted; if not, the system returns to a sleep cycle for another 20 seconds. A set of six laser diodes, also located at the endpoints of three nearly orthogonal axes, are programmed to turn "on" during passes over Maui. These diodes emit light at 810 nanometers (nm), which will be observed from the AMOS facility.

The Naval Academy has been given the opportunity to construct a digital communications transponder for use in the Amateur Satellite Service to fit inside the ANDE sphere similar to what it is flying on the PCSat 1 and PCSat 2 missions. The PCSat-like follow-on packet communications mission will continue the interest of students worldwide by letting them communicate via the satellite and capture telemetry relative to its temperature in the space environment.

ANDE-MAA failed to deploy after it became stuck in its launch canister, but did finally deploy on 22.12.2006 and has been observed by NORAD.

Nation: USA
Type / Application: Research (Atmospheric density)
Operator: Space Test Program, NASA Johnson Space Center
Contractors:
Equipment:
Configuration:
Propulsion: None
Power: Batteries
Lifetime:
Mass: 50 kg
Orbit: 312 km × 335 km, 51.64°
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
ANDE (MAA, NO 61, Navy-OSCAR 61) 2006-055F 10.12.2006 CCK LC-39B Shuttle with Discovery F33 (STS 116), ITS-P5, FCal, MEPSI 2A, MEPSI 2B, RAFT1, MARScom

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