SPACECRAFT CHARGING AND MITIGATION METHODS FOR SPACECRAFT CHARGING

摘要

This paper is a review of lectures given by Shu T. Lai, US AFRL in the course Spacecraft Environment Interactions at Kiruna Space and Environment Campus, Sweden, 2003. Electrostatic charging of spacecraft surfaces has long been recognized as an important consideration for spacecraft design. A common spacecraft charging effect is interference with scientific measurements, plasma measurements for examples. Spacecraft charging may also affect telemetry and electronics. The underlying cause of spacecraft surface charging is mainly due to the difference between the ambient electron and ion fluxes. That spacecraft charging occur depends on the location of the spacecraft, the material of the surface, the local time and the space weather. There are five elements are of special interest when charging is calculated; the ambient electrons, ambient ions, photoelectrons, secondary electrons and backscattered electrons. Where also exist a critical temperature for onset of spacecraft charging. Mitigation methods for spacecraft charging are divided into two types, passives and actives. Paradoxically, is the ion emission method pretty effective.