Transient Pulse Monitor (TPM)

Abstract

The Transient Pulse Monitor (TPM) detects and characterizes transient electric fields and currents on satellites to help investigate arc discharge phenomena affecting spacecraft operation in various space environments. The TPM was originally developed to measure arc discharge parameters for several different experiments on a combined mission. However, in its present configuration, the TPM will be used to characterize arc discharges resulting from high-voltage solar-array operation (simulated by biasing) in the low-to medium-altitude space-plasma environment for Phillips Laboratory's Photovoltaic Array Space Power Plus Diagnostics (PASP Plus) experiment. This report describes the TPM design, the nature of its measurements, and the results of the calibration and environmental testing of the instrument in its flight configuration as part of the PASP Plus experiment.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA244502

Entities

People

  • D. R. Dana

Organizations

  • SRI International

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Barometric Pressure
  • Computers
  • Detectors
  • Dynamic Range
  • Electric Fields
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Frequency
  • Measurement
  • Medium Altitude
  • Radiation
  • Random Vibration
  • Shielding
  • Solar Panels
  • Spacecraft
  • Vacuum Chambers
  • Waveforms

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Military Engineering.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster
  • Space - Satellites