The charging of spacecraft surfaces

Garrett, Henry

doi:10.1029/rg019i004p00577

Cited by 385 publications

(222 citation statements)

References 121 publications

(55 reference statements)

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“…[45] For a spacecraft in the geosynchronous environment it is often a good approximation to describe the collection of charged particles by using the orbit-limited Langmuir probe formula [Garrett, 1981;Whipple, 1981]. Consider an electron traveling at velocity V from infinite distance (r = 1) toward a spherical spacecraft that has an attractive potential f(>0).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On supercharging: Electrostatic aspects

Lai

2002

J. Geophys. Res.

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[1] Charged-beam emissions control the spacecraft potential if the beam current is higher than the ambient plasma currents. There are important questions as to the upper limit of the beam current that can be emitted into the ambient plasma and the upper limit of the spacecraft potential that can be induced. The usually accepted view is that the beam current emitted reaches its upper limit when the spacecraft potential energy reaches the beam energy. In this view any attempt to emit a current beyond the critical value would result in partial beam return, while both the effective beam current emitted and the spacecraft potential would remain unaffected. Surprisingly, results from three recent beam experiments in space show that the spacecraft potential energy can exceed the beam energy when very high beam currents are emitted. This phenomenon is called supercharging. The experimental results show that the expected limits on the beam current emitted and the spacecraft potential achieved appear to be incorrect. We offer two physical explanations. In the first one the beam energy is higher than expected. For example, the extra energy can be due to the beam space charge or the nonmonoenergetic beam energy distribution. For an unneutralized beam the beam space charge near the beam exit point can be significant. The potential energy of the beam space charge is converted into kinetic energy as the beam diverges. The total beam particle kinetic energy becomes more than its initial value. Scattering of beam particles with each other can spread the beam energy to lower and higher values. The beam particles with higher energies than the spacecraft potential escape. The second explanation concerns a common measurement technique using long booms for measuring spacecraft potential. The measurement represents the potential difference between the tip of a boom and that of a spacecraft. The tip of a long boom is commonly assumed to be at the ambient plasma potential. We stress that the boom can be charged, however, especially during high beam current emissions. As a result of boom charging, the measurement exceeds the true potential difference between the spacecraft and the ambient plasma. Both explanations concern possible misinterpretations of the measurements.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On supercharging: Electrostatic aspects

Lai

2002

J. Geophys. Res.

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“…The low energy (few eV and above) components interacting with the surfaces of the satellite can produce surface charging on the material used to encase the satellite (Garrett 1981). The plasma flux can be highly variable in time and intensity, which may result in different charging levels.…”

Section: Effects On Satellitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Space Weather: Physics, Effects and Predictability

2010

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The time varying conditions in the near-Earth space environment that may affect space-borne or ground-based technological systems and may endanger human health or life are referred to as space weather. Space weather effects arise from the dynamic and highly variable conditions in the geospace environment starting from explosive events on the Sun (solar flares), Coronal Mass Ejections near the Sun in the interplanetary medium, and various energetic effects in the magnetosphere-ionosphere-atmosphere system. As the utilization of space has become part of our everyday lives, and as our lives have become increasingly dependent on technological systems vulnerable to the space weather influences, the understanding and prediction of hazards posed by these active solar events have grown in importance. In this paper, we review the processes of the Sun-Earth interactions, the dynamic conditions within the magnetosphere, and the predictability of space weather effects on radio waves, satellites and ground-based technological systems today.

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“…At frequencies in the Ka (18-31 GHz) band that are planned for high bandwidth space-to-ground applications (as well as for point-to-point communications between ground terminals), water vapour in the neutral atmosphere is the most significant natural phenomenon that can seriously affect the signals [Gordon and Morgan, 1993]. It would appear that, in general, the space environment can reasonably be ignored when designing around the limitations imposed by rain and water vapour in the atmosphere.…”

Section: Atmosphere Water Vapourmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A textbook discussion of the space environment and the implications for satellite design is contained in Tribble [1995]. The low energy (few eV to few keV) particles in the Earth's magnetosphere plasma population can produce different levels of surface charging on the materials (principally for thermal control) that encase a satellite [Garrett, 1981]. If good electrical connections are not established between the various surface materials, and between the materials and the solar arrays, differential charging on the surfaces can produce lightning-like breakdown discharges between the materials.…”

Section: Space Radiation Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Space Storms and Space Weather Hazards

Daglis¹

2001

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Subject Terms Report Classification unclassified Classification of this page unclassified Classification of Abstract unclassified Limitation of Abstract UU Number of Pages 486REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, -to review recent spacecraft measurements that have provided new insight into the dynamics and effects of space storms; -to review space weather hazards associated with space storms and pertinent to the operation of technological systems in space and on ground;-to discuss and assess methods of space weather forecasting, as well as national and international initiatives towards an efficient development of space climatology.Space weather, the invisible but nevertheless effective result of solar activity and solar-terrestrial coupling, has affected the operations of communication systems since the appearance of telegraph in the 19th century, though as an unknown trouble factor. Nowadays, the effects of space weather affect in various ways all communication modes, from cable to wireless to space-based systems. Moreover, space weather hazards include malfunction or even permanent damage of power distribution grids and of telecommunication, navigation and surveillance satellites, disturbances of over-the-horizon (OTH) radar, HF, VHF and UHF communications, surveying and navigation systems that use Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, surveillance (optical and radar), and satellite tracking. Space weather influences on the Earth's weather and climate is still a developing topic. Little is known concerning the biological effects of space weather, especially regarding astronauts.This Institute could not be timelier. Space Weather, which has been defined as "conditions on the sun and in the solar wind, magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere that can influence the performance and reliability of space-and ground-based technological systems and can endanger human life", encompasses a broad range of phenomena impacting both space science and technology. The effects of Space Weather, while present throughout the solar cycle, gain particular prominence around the peak of the 11-year sunspot activity; the maximum of cycle 23 occurred in summer 2000.The fact that this ASI on Space Weather was held in Europe is particularly appropriate. European countries host a considerable repository of knowledge and world-class facilities in this field. Nevertheless, while Space Weather activities in c...

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The charging of spacecraft surfaces

Cited by 385 publications

References 121 publications

On supercharging: Electrostatic aspects

On supercharging: Electrostatic aspects

Space Weather: Physics, Effects and Predictability

Space Storms and Space Weather Hazards

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