NASA has selected DAPHNE (Dynamic Atmosphere-Ionosphere Explorer), a new scientific mission that will investigate how phenomena occurring in Earth’s atmosphere influence the space weather around our planet. The mission has been chosen to advance into the preliminary design and development phase.
DAPHNE will consist of two identical satellites, which will simultaneously observe different regions of Earth’s upper atmosphere. The goal is to better understand how processes in the lower atmospheric layers can impact the thermosphere and ionosphere, the regions where many space weather effects manifest.
Even though these phenomena occur hundreds of kilometers high, they can have tangible consequences on Earth and in space. They can affect satellite navigation systems, communications, and the operations of satellites in orbit.
With DAPHNE, NASA aims to gain a deeper understanding of what happens in the higher regions of Earth’s atmosphere and how they influence space weather, thereby improving predictions of more intense phenomena.
Two Satellites to Study a Still Little-Known Region
The mission will focus on the thermosphere and ionosphere, two regions situated between Earth’s atmosphere and space. In these areas, atmospheric gases become progressively more rarefied and begin to interact with charged particles originating from the Sun and the space environment surrounding Earth.
The two satellites will measure parameters such as temperature, chemical composition, and atmospheric winds. Thanks to simultaneous observations from two different points, scientists will be able to track the evolution of atmospheric phenomena with greater precision than is possible with a single satellite.
One of the most interesting aspects of the mission will be the study of the influence of the lower atmosphere on the higher regions. Although space weather is often associated with solar activity, processes occurring closer to the Earth’s surface can also contribute to modifying the behavior of the thermosphere and ionosphere.
The mission is led by Aimee Merkel from the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder. In the coming months, the team will work on the detailed system design and the definition of scientific operations.
In 2027, DAPHNE will undergo a review to assess the project’s progress and the availability of the necessary funding to continue. If confirmed, the mission will have a maximum cost of $250 million, excluding launch, and could depart no earlier than 2029.
