D-Orbit Atmosphere Analyser (DAA) is a Cubesat platform designed to collect in-situ data from the upper atmosphere, aiming specifically for the region between 80 and 200km. This region comprises the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere (MLT) region and the lowest regions of the Ionosphere. This region is above the stratospheric balloons maximum altitude and below the satellites orbit lowest altitude, therefore is the hardest region to reach in the whole atmosphere and the most poorly understood. Up to now, the only way to reach this region was through the use of sounding rockets, which are very limited in geographical reach and observation frequency and also very expensive.
DAA is an innovative solution developed by D-Orbit PT that want to take advantage of the Cubesat format and easier space access combined with D-Orbit's heritage on space propulsion solutions. DAA's mission has been designed in order to collect in-situ data in a target region of 120 to 130 Km altitude for one year with an average of 5 daily passes, each passage should last approximately 6 minutes.
The on-board sensor selection shall be made considering the client data needs. From D-Orbit assessment and market scouting, in the initial DAA mission the on-board major sensors should be a Langmuir probe to collect ionosphere plasma density and a precise orbit determination system to measure the atmosphere air density. The collected data can be used in different applications, the most relevant ones are the ones that can benefit directly from an improved knowledge of DAA target region, namely:
- GNNS service providers – For extra accuracy and reliability.
- Aviation – For increased safety in polar routes
- Satellite Orbit tracking services – For improved orbit position determination
- Weather and Climate – Enable new data for weather and climate studies
