Polar Code Validation

Abstract

The POLAR code was written to model charging by large spacecraft in low, polar orbit. This report documents comparisons of POLAR code calculations with flight experiments. Calculations of the plasma wake behind the Shuttle Orbiter are compared with the situ measurements of Murphy et al. 1989. Calculations of the charging of DMSP-7, performed by Dr. David Cooke for the GL, are compared with the flight measurements of Gussenhoven et al. 1985. Calculations of current and potential on the SPEAR 1 rocket are compared with the flight measurements. Calculation of electron collection by the CHARGE II mother rocket payload are compared with flight observations. In all cases, the POLAR calculations agreed with the essential features of the observations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 30, 1989
Accession Number
ADA230138

Entities

People

  • G. A. Jongeward
  • I. Katz
  • J. R. Lilley Jr.
  • M. J. Mandell
  • T. T. Luu

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Charged Particles
  • Electric Fields
  • Electron Density
  • Electron Emission
  • Electrons
  • Geosynchronous Orbits
  • Low Earth Orbits
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Measurement
  • Orbits
  • Polar Orbits
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Charging
  • Three Dimensional
  • Trajectories

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Plasma Physics.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space