The AFRL demonstration and science experiments (DSX) for DoD space capability in the MEO

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) space vehicles directorate has developed the demonstration and sciences experiment (DSX) to research the technologies needed to deploy space assets in the harsh MEO radiation environment. The DSX comprises three basic research experiments: 1) wave particle interaction experiment; 2) space weather experiment and; 3) space environmental effects experiment. The wave particle interaction experiment will explore the transmission, propagation and amplification of very low frequency (VLF) waves in the magnetosphere. The experiment will be performed using a mission architecture that includes space transmitters and receivers on DSX, ground transmitters such as high frequency active auroral research program (HAARP), and other space receivers on satellites such as IMAGE (imager for magnetopause-to-aurora global exploration). The specific objectives are to explore the effect of VLF waves on scattering energetic particles in the radiation belts, global wave propagation, amplification, and efficiency of VLF injection from a space antenna through the plasma sheath. The wave particle interaction experiment is under development through the strong support of DARPA's Sleight of HAND program. The space weather experiment uses a combination of seven particle and field sensors to precisely measure high and low energy particle dose rates and pitch-angle distributions as well as local magnetic fields in the poorly characterized MEO environment and slot region. the space environmental effects experiment on DSX is centered around the NASA GSFC space environmental testbed (SET) payload which will perform basic research on the performance of a number of electronics components in the MEO environment. In addition, AFRL radiometers and photometers will be used to characterize the radiation effects on select optical and thermal coatings. Grouping these experiments on a single platform provides a low-cost opportunity for AFRL due to the experiments' common requirements and goals. All three experiments need a 3-axis stabilized spacecraft bus, a suite of radiation sensors, and extended duration in a MEO orbit. The DSX spacecraft is currently in fabrication. The DSX program enjoys the continued support of SMC Det 12, space test program, in the process to secure a launch manifest. The satellite is planned to be launch ready by late 2008 with one year of on-orbit operations.