Thruster Plumes: Sources for High Pressure and Contamination at the Payload Location

Gräf, Stephan; Altwegg, Kathrin; Balsiger, H.; Bochsler, P.; Fiethe, Björn; Montagnon, Elsa

doi:10.2514/1.30600

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…[42] It has been shown elsewhere that thruster operations can lead to a large increase in pressure around the spacecraft [Graf et al, 2008]. While pressure increases attributed to thruster operation can be even harmful for instruments (mainly increasing the danger of discharge for instruments using high voltages), the pressure after a thruster firing decreases relatively rapidly within minutes to acceptable levels for payload integrity.…”

Section: Thruster Operationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of spacecraft outgassing on the exploration of tenuous atmospheres with in situ mass spectrometry

et al. 2010

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[1] In situ mass spectrometry has been a powerful tool in many space missions to investigate atmospheres and exospheres of different bodies in the solar system. Applying new technologies, the mass spectrometers have become increasingly more sensitive. In this study, we show that spacecraft outgassing, which can never be completely prevented, will be the limiting factor in future missions that investigate very tenuous atmospheres and exospheres of moons, asteroids, or comets at large heliocentric distances. The Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis (ROSINA) instrument on the European Space Agency Rosetta mission has monitored spacecraft outgassing for 6 years during #9the cruise phase with unprecedented instrument sensitivity. It is shown that diffusion of gas from materials and from the spacecraft interior plays an important role in maintaining a relatively permanent thin gas cloud around the spacecraft for many years. The density #9and composition of this gas cloud depends on location on the spacecraft, maneuvers, and payload activity. The main contaminants are water, which is adsorbed on cold surfaces, and organics from the spacecraft structure, electronics, and insulations. Decomposed lubricant material can give a significant contribution to the total background. Fortunately for Rosetta, outgassing of the spacecraft will play a minor role when the comet is close to perihelion; only in the early phase of the mission the outgassing may be larger than the cometary signature.

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Section: Thruster Operationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of spacecraft outgassing on the exploration of tenuous atmospheres with in situ mass spectrometry

et al. 2010

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“…Thruster firing background . The ESA Rosetta total pressure sensor measured the response of the ambient pressure to the spacecraft thruster firing (Graf et al 2008 ). The total pressure measurement increased by more than 2 orders of magnitude every time the spacecraft fired its thruster.…”

Section: Instrument Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

SERENA: Particle Instrument Suite for Determining the Sun-Mercury Interaction from BepiColombo

et al. 2021

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The ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury will provide simultaneous measurements from two spacecraft, offering an unprecedented opportunity to investigate magnetospheric and exospheric particle dynamics at Mercury as well as their interactions with solar wind, solar radiation, and interplanetary dust. The particle instrument suite SERENA (Search for Exospheric Refilling and Emitted Natural Abundances) is flying in space on-board the BepiColombo Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and is the only instrument for ion and neutral particle detection aboard the MPO. It comprises four independent sensors: ELENA for neutral particle flow detection, Strofio for neutral gas detection, PICAM for planetary ions observations, and MIPA, mostly for solar wind ion measurements. SERENA is managed by a System Control Unit located inside the ELENA box. In the present paper the scientific goals of this suite are described, and then the four units are detailed, as well as their major features and calibration results. Finally, the SERENA operational activities are shown during the orbital path around Mercury, with also some reference to the activities planned during the long cruise phase.

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“…As a third cause of particle background variability around Rosetta, we have identified thruster firings. Although all thrusters are shielded from direct view of COPS, the plumes can easily be detected by this sensor 7,11 . The ROSINA mass spectrometers are not operated for safety reasons during thruster firings (high pressures and therefore risk of electrical discharges).…”

Section: Figure 2 Temporal Evolution Of the Particle Density Around mentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of the gaseous spacecraft environment of Rosetta by ROSINA

Schläppi

Altwegg

Balsiger

et al. 2011

3rd AIAA Atmospheric Space Environments Conference

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For critical optical surfaces and sensitive instrumentation, contamination due to spacecraft outgassing is a nuisance. To avoid or minimize the resulting, limiting factors in the future, a comprehensive understanding of the outgassing mechanisms is necessary. Here we summarize findings from outgassing studies using the Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis (ROSINA) on the Rosetta spacecraft. Data are available for a flight time of more than six years, a large range of heliocentric distances, and a variety of different test scenarios.

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Thruster Plumes: Sources for High Pressure and Contamination at the Payload Location

Cited by 17 publications

References 5 publications

Influence of spacecraft outgassing on the exploration of tenuous atmospheres with in situ mass spectrometry

Influence of spacecraft outgassing on the exploration of tenuous atmospheres with in situ mass spectrometry

SERENA: Particle Instrument Suite for Determining the Sun-Mercury Interaction from BepiColombo

Characterization of the gaseous spacecraft environment of Rosetta by ROSINA

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