A Microparticle Recognition Experiment for Near-Earth Space On Board the Satellite ASUSat 1

The Microparticle Recognition Experiment (MRE) under development for flight on the ASUSat 1 mission to measure the flux, mass, velocity, trajectory and temperature of near-Earth microparticles is discussed. A parabolic PVDF copolymer array sensor with particulate position detection capabilities is employed to distinguish between natural particles and orbital debris in low-Earth orbit. Measurements will cover the particle mass range ~ 2 x 10 -12 g (2 µm diameter) to ~ 1 x 10 -2 g (1mm diameter) with an expected mean error in particle trajectory ± 7 degrees. ASUSat 1 is a 10 LB class microsatellite under design and development by students at Arizona State University. Mission characteristics include a 98", 6am-6pm sun-synchronous polar orbit at 450 km altitude. It has a mission duration of 2 years and an anticipated launch date in early 1996 by Orbital Sciences Corporation.