Dynamics Explorer
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Dynamics Explorer was a NASA mission, launched on August 3, 1981 and terminated on February 28, 1991. [1] It consisted of two unmanned satellites, DE-1 and DE-2, whose purpose was to investigate the interractions between plasmas in the magnetosphere and those in the ionosphere. [2] The two satellites were launched together into polar coplanar orbits, which allowed them to simultaneously observe the upper and lower parts of the atmosphere.
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[edit] Design
Both spacecraft had a hexagonal shape and were launched aboard a Delta 3000 booster rocket. Upon reaching orbit, the two spacecraft departed from the booster and entered separate orbits. Dynamics Explorer 1 was placed into a high altitude eliptical orbit, while DE-2 was put into a lower orbit that was also more circular. The orbital period for DE-2 was 98 minutes.
[edit] Dynamics Explorer 1 Instrumentation
The main instrument aboard Dynamics Explorer 1 was the Plasma Wave Instrument (PWI). This instrument, Designed and built by the Plasma Wave Group, measured auroral kilometric radiation, auroral hiss, Z-mode radiation, and narrow band electromagnetic emissions. Additional Instruments aboard the spacecraft include:
- The Spin-scan Auroral Imager (SAI)
- The Retarding Ion Mass Spectrometer (RIMS)
- The Energetic Ion Mass Spectrometer (EIMS)
[edit] Dynamics Explorer 2 Instrumentation
The Dynamics Explorer 2 carried the following instruments for data collection:
- A Retarding Potential Analyzer, which measures the ion flux along the velocity vector of the spacecraft. This data can then be used to determine the ion temperature and drift velocity in the spacecraft's area. [3]
- An Ion Drift Meter, which measures the ambient ion drift.
- A Magnetometer
- A Vector Electric Field Instrument
- A Neutral Atmosphere Composition Spectrometer
- A Wind and Temperature Spectrometer
- A Fabry-Perot Inferometer
- A Low-Altitude Plasma Instrument
- A Langmuir Probe
[edit] Mission Results
As a result of a malfunction in the Delta 3000 booster rocket in which its main engine shut off slightly early, DE-2 was placed into a slightly lower orbit than was anticipated. This was not a serious problem, however, and the spacecraft had lasted its expected lifespan when it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on February 19, 1983. DE-1, being in a higher orbit, continued to collect data until 1991, when the mission was officially terminated.
[edit] References
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