View source for Atmosphere-Space Transition Region Explorer

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'''Atmosphere-Space Transition Region Explorer''' ('''ASTRE''') is a mission concept proposed in 2011 to NASA's [[Explorers program#Medium-Class Explorers (MIDEX)|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 [[Orbital decay|satellite drag]] models.<ref name='Proposals 2011'>[http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/sep/HQ_11-328_Science_Proposals.html NASA - NASA Selects Science Investigations For Concept Studies.]</ref> The spacecraft would measure ionized gases within the transition region/boundary layer between 150–250&nbsp;km altitude.<ref name='Pfaff 2018'>[https://agu.confex.com/agu/2018tess/preliminaryview.cgi/Paper335883.html 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.</ref><ref name='Pfaff 2011'>[http://transcriptvids.com/v3/sqS-DKLdVXI.html Atmosphere-Space Transition Region Explorer (ASTRE)]. Robert F. Pfaff. 11 December 2011. Transcription from a presentation.</ref>  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.<ref name='Proposals 2011'/>

== References ==
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{{Explorer program}}

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[[Category:Proposed spacecraft]]
[[Category:Explorers Program]]


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