TheDynamic Ionosphere CubeSat Experiment (DICE) is a scientific mission consisting of twoMiniaturized SatellitesDICE-1 andDICE-2 flying in formation.[1] The satellites are an unusual 1.5U variant of theCubeSat design for microsatellites. Both satellites were launched fromVandenberg Air Force Base in October 2011 atop aDelta IIrocket. This was a multi-payload mission with four other CubeSats,AubieSat-1,M-Cubed,Explorer-1_Prime andRAX-2.[2]
The satellites are intended to map changes in the Earth'sPlasmasphere caused byGeomagnetic storms.[3]
On board control is provided by a Pumpkin FM430 flight control module containing aTexas Instruments MPS430microcontroller. Communications are provided by ahalf-duplexUHFmodem with a 1.5 Mbit/s downlink (465 MHz) and 19.2 kbit/s uplink (450 MHz). The satellites carry four Electric Field Probe sensors on telescopic booms, two DCLangmuir probes for detection ofions and a three-axismagnetometer for measuringmagnetic fields.[4]
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