HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT TEST TO SOLAR ARRAY FOR EVALUATION OF POSSIBILITY OF SUSTAINED ARC

摘要

In recent years, a solar array has become larger with the higher voltage. Therefore, risk of space debris impact and discharge on the solar array is increasing. It is important to take account of electric damage as well as mechanical damage after debris impact on the solar array. The mechanical damage is degradation of the cell and destruction of the structure. The electrical damage is discharge on the solar array through plasma created by debris impact. It is conceivable that this discharge can lead to carbonize an insulation layer of the solar cell and form permanent short circuit. This is sustained arc. In the previous study, although we carried out hypervelocity impact test with polycarbonate projectile and the solar array coupon under pseudo power generation, sustained arc was not observed. Therefore, in this study, the material of projectile was altered from polycarbonate to aluminum alloy in order to conform to real debris impact and we conducted hypervelocity impact tests again. In addition, laser irradiation tests were conducted in more clean and high vacuum ambient pressure.