Atmosphere-Space Transition Region Explorer

Last updated March 07, 2025

Atmosphere-Space Transition Region Explorer (ASTRE) is a mission concept proposed in 2011 to NASA's Medium-Class Explorers program (MIDEX) to study the interaction between the Earth's atmosphere and the ionized gases in outer space in an effort to understand how space-induced currents in electric power grids originate, as well as improve satellite drag models.^[1] The spacecraft would measure ionized gases within the transition region/boundary layer between 150–250 km altitude.^[2]^[3] The concept was not selected for development at that time.

The Principal Investigator is Robert F. Pfaff from the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.^[1]

References

1 2 NASA - NASA Selects Science Investigations For Concept Studies.
↑ The Atmosphere-Space Transition Region Explorer (ASTRE) -- Using in situ Measurements on a Low Perigee Satellite to Understand How the Upper Atmosphere and Magnetosphere are Coupled. Robert F Pfaff Jr. Triennial Earth-Sun Summit.
↑ Atmosphere-Space Transition Region Explorer (ASTRE) ^[usurped]. Robert F. Pfaff. 11 December 2011. Transcription from a presentation.

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[Proposals_2011-1] 1 2 NASA - NASA Selects Science Investigations For Concept Studies.

[Pfaff_2018-2] The Atmosphere-Space Transition Region Explorer (ASTRE) -- Using in situ Measurements on a Low Perigee Satellite to Understand How the Upper Atmosphere and Magnetosphere are Coupled. Robert F Pfaff Jr. Triennial Earth-Sun Summit.

[Pfaff_2011-3] Atmosphere-Space Transition Region Explorer (ASTRE) ^[usurped]. Robert F. Pfaff. 11 December 2011. Transcription from a presentation.

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