Ion Gun Generated Electromagnetic Interference on the Scatha Satellite.
Abstract
Spacecraft charging at geosynchronous orbit can cause satellite anomalies and failure. Experiments in charge control were conducted on the joint Air Force/NASA P78-2 (SCATHA) satellite using both electron and positive ion emission systems. These experiments were monitored by a variety of plasma wave and particle detectors. Plasma wave data show that arcing was taking place during non-neutralized ion beam emission. The arcing was seen to cease when either the beam was neutralized or the beam acceleration voltage was turned off. Evidence exists which indicate that the arcing is due to differential charging on the satellite surface. A possible effect of non-neutral, non-accelerated ion beam emission is the shielding of the electric field antenna from ion gun generated plasma waves. The effect of shielding these signals is an increase in the sensitivity of the electric field receiver to natural signals. Keywords: Ion gun, Ion beam, Plasma waves, Spacecraft charge control, Satellite charging, Artificial particle beams, Theses.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA195179
Entities
People
- Leonard E. Weddle
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School