"DAPHNE will join NASA's science fleet in providing data for mission planners to predict and mitigate space weather effects, including supporting astronauts beyond Earth's magnetic protection."
NASA has selected the DAPHNE (Dynamic Atmosphere-Ionosphere Explorer) mission concept for Phase B development, a critical stage focused on planning and design for flight and mission operations. The mission is designed to study the coupling between Earth's lower and upper atmospheres and its influence on space weather.
Mission Objectives
DAPHNE will utilize two identical satellites to conduct coordinated, multi-point measurements of neutral winds, temperature, and composition in the thermosphere. This region marks the transition where Earth's neutral atmosphere turns into the ionized plasma of space. By incorporating data on energy from the lower atmosphere, the mission aims to advance predictive capabilities for space weather.
Management and Timeline
The mission is led by Aimee Merkel from the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. A confirmation review is scheduled for 2027 to assess progress and funding availability.
If confirmed, the total estimated cost, excluding the launch vehicle, will not exceed $250 million in fiscal year 2023 dollars.
The launch date is currently estimated to be no earlier than 2029. Funding and management oversight are provided by the Solar Terrestrial Probes program at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Statements and Context
Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, stated that the mission supports U.S. leadership as a space weather-ready nation and will help predict and prepare for impacts on daily life on Earth and in space.
The DAPHNE mission concept was proposed in response to the DYNAMIC (Dynamical Neutral Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling) mission announcement of opportunity.