Spacecraft Charging at Geosynchronous Altitudes: Current-Balance and Critical Temperature in a Non-Maxwellian Plasma

Abstract

Spacecraft charging threatens to disable spacecraft components and adversely impact any satellite function. Electrostatic charge, and especially discharge, can hinder the proper operation of, or destroy, spacecraft components, thereby rendering the spacecraft ineffective or inoperative. The level of charging is dependent on the particle energy (speed) distribution. Current spacecraft design and material provide limited protection against the dangers of electrostatic discharge, and active measures such as beam emission are also employed.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 25, 2003
Accession Number
ADA415131

Entities

People

  • Jose T. Harris

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Charged Particles
  • Critical Temperature
  • Electron Density
  • Electron Emission
  • Electron Energy
  • Electrons
  • Emission
  • Equations
  • Geosynchronous Orbits
  • Geosynchronous Satellites
  • Materials
  • Space Plasmas
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Charging
  • Spacecraft Components

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Plasma Physics.
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster