Dynamics Explorer spacecraft and ground operations systems

Abstract

The Dynamics Explorer program of NASA is designed to study the coupling of energy, electric currents, electric fields, and plasmas between the atmosphere, ionosphere, and the magnetosphere. The program is composed of two well instrumented polar orbiting satellites and ground operations and data handling systems which have been designed to acquire, process, and make readily available to the scientists of the program the data sets necessary for analysis to accomplish the science objectives. These systems are described with emphasis placed on the relationship of the two instrumented spacecraft and the ground systems to their roles in meeting the program requirements. In addition, the characteristics of the orbits selected are specified.