Computing Surface Charging in the Auroral Environment Using NASCAP-2K

Abstract

At high latitudes, during periods of auroral activity, low-earth polar orbiting spacecraft can pass through a region of intense, energetic electron fluxes and low thermal plasma density. The Nascap-2k computer code has been extended to model spacecraft surface charging in the auroral region. This report documents how to use the new capabilities, the equations used to describe the environment and its interactions with the surfaces, and the validation of the results.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA420408

Entities

People

  • G. A. Jongeward
  • M. J. Mandell
  • V. A. Davis

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Charge Density
  • Electron Flux
  • Electrons
  • Energy
  • Environment
  • Flux Density
  • Grids
  • High Latitudes
  • Ion Density
  • Low Density
  • Meteorological Satellites
  • Orbits
  • Space Charge
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Charging
  • Trajectories

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space