Spacecraft Plasma Environment Induced by High Current Beam Emission
Abstract
When the current of an electron or ion beam emitted from a spacecraft exceeds the ambient electron or ion current, there are two effects. (1) The high current beam emission raises the spacecraft potential to high levels, and (2) the spacecraft plasma environment is dominated by the returning electrons or ions at about the spacecraft potential energy. The returning electrons or ions are nearly mono-energetic and can come from the beam itself and/or from the ambient plasma attracted towards the spacecraft. We emphasize that instruments located a short distances outside the spacecraft may be bombarded by the returning beam electrons, or ions, circulating the spacecraft. High level charging of instrument surfaces may cause erroneous measurements, anomalies, or even failures. As cases in point, we discuss two high current beam emission events, vis., (1) the failures of the sC2 instruments on the SCATHA satellite and (2) the supercharging measurements using copper-beryllium booms on the MAIMAK satellite.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA431368
Entities
People
- Shu T.F. Lai
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory