November 1, 2011
As seen through windows on the aft flight deck of Space Shuttle Endeavour, a Department of Defense pico-satellite known as Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment 2 (ANDE-2) is released from the shuttle's payload bay by STS-127 crew members. ANDE-2 consists of two spherical micro-satellites which will measure the density and composition of the low-Earth orbit (LEO) atmosphere while being tracked from the ground. The data will be used to better predict the movement of objects in orbit.
Topics: Environment, Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment, Earth orbits, Astrodynamics, Disaster Accident, pico satellite, Department of Defense, STARSHINE, Low Earth orbit, United States Department of Defense, STS-127, STS-116, Geocentric orbit, Space Shuttle, Satellite, Space Shuttle program