Jun 30 2006
From The Space Library
NASA’s three orbiting ST 5-mission microsatellites, launched on 22 March 2006, concluded operations. The mission had demonstrated the benefits of using a constellation of spacecraft to perform scientific studies of the auroral displays that occur near Earth’s polar regions. Using miniature magnetometers, the spacecraft had simultaneously traversed electric current sheets and measured the magnetic field. According to Guan Le, ST5 Mission Project Scientist at Goddard, “taking measurements at the same time in different locations allowed scientists to better estimate the thickness of current sheets and how they vary over time.” Previously, no single spacecraft had been capable of doing this. Project scientists would analyze the mission’s magnetometer data over the next few months to assess the satellites’ performance. The mission also demonstrated an innovative communications technology that used miniature spacecraft-radio transponders, coupled with antennas, for space-to-ground communications and tracking.
NASA, “NASA’s Micro-Satellites Complete Technology Validation Mission,” news release 06-254, 29 June 2006, http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/jun/HQ_06254_microsatellites.html (accessed 22 February 2010).
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