# ANDE-MAA

> former American atmospheric density research satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q17297624](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17297624)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ande-maa

## Summary
ANDE-MAA was an American atmospheric density research satellite launched in 2006. It served as a secondary payload on the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-116) mission to study atmospheric drag effects on satellites.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** December 10, 2006, at 01:47:35 UTC from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B  
- **Mission Purpose:** Atmospheric density research to understand orbital drag effects  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-116)  
- **Mass:** 52.04 kilograms (launch weight)  
- **Diameter:** 0.4826 meters  
- **Operator:** Space Test Program and Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center  
- **Re-entry Date:** December 25, 2007 (atmospheric decay)  
- **COSPAR ID:** 2006-055F  
- **Classification:** Research satellite, amateur radio satellite, military satellite  

## FAQs
### Q: What was ANDE-MAA's primary mission?  
A: ANDE-MAA was designed to measure atmospheric density and drag effects on satellites in low Earth orbit, providing data to improve spacecraft orbital predictions.

### Q: How was ANDE-MAA launched and deployed?  
A: It was launched as a secondary payload on Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-116) on December 10, 2006, and deployed into orbit on December 22, 2006.

### Q: What happened to ANDE-MAA after deployment?  
A: It operated for approximately one year before re-entering Earth's atmosphere on December 25, 2007, where it disintegrated during atmospheric decay.

### Q: Did ANDE-MAA have secondary functions?  
A: Yes, it was also classified as an amateur radio satellite (Navy-OSCAR 61) and had military satellite applications.

## Why It Matters
ANDE-MAA provided critical real-world data on atmospheric drag in low Earth orbit, addressing a persistent challenge in spacecraft design and orbital maintenance. By measuring how upper atmospheric conditions affect satellite trajectories, it enabled more accurate orbital lifetime predictions and improved space situational awareness. Its dual research and amateur radio capabilities demonstrated efficient mission design for scientific and operational benefits, though its brief 13-month lifespan highlighted the challenges of atmospheric re-entry in the thermosphere.

## Notable For
- Only atmospheric density research mission deployed via Space Shuttle in 2006  
- One of the smallest research satellites at just 0.4826 meters in diameter  
- Also functioned as Navy-OSCAR 61, serving amateur radio operators  
- Shortest operational duration in the Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment (ANDE) program  
- Dual classified as both research and military satellite  

## Body
### Mission Objectives
ANDE-MAA was part of the Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment program to characterize atmospheric density variations and their impact on satellite drag. This data helped refine orbital decay models for spacecraft design and operational planning.

### Technical Specifications
- **Dimensions:** 0.4826 meter diameter spherical satellite  
- **Weight:** 52.04 kg (launch weight)  
- **Altitude:** Low Earth orbit (~400-500 km)  
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR 2006-055F, NSSDCA 2006-055F, SCN 29664  

### Operational Timeline
- **2006-12-10:** Launch via STS-16 from Kennedy Space Center  
- **2006-12-22:** Deployment into orbit  
- **2007-12-25:** Atmospheric re-entry and decay (~07:24 UTC)  

### Affiliations
- **Primary Operator:** Space Test Program  
- **Management:** Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center  
- **Country of Origin:** United States  

### Alternative Names
ANDE-MAA was also known as Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment - Mock ANDE Active, ANDE-RR, Navy-OSCAR 61, OSCAR 61, NO-61, ANDE-RR Active, and ANDERRA.

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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "ANDE-MAA",
  "description": "Former American atmospheric density research satellite launched in 2006",
  "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/MAAFinal2.jpg",
  "sameAs": [
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  "additionalType": "research satellite, amateur radio satellite, military satellite"
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## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/ande-maa.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](http://www.aprs.org/ande-ops.html)
4. [Source](https://ilrs.gsfc.nasa.gov/missions/satellite_missions/past_missions/anra_general.html)
5. [Source](http://web.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/ande/ande-report2.txt)
6. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=2006-055F)
7. [Source](https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/ande)
8. [Source](https://ilrs.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/anderr_hw.pdf)
9. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2006-055F)
10. [Source](https://www.nrl.navy.mil/pao/pressrelease.php?Y=2005&R=22-05s)