Computation of Capacitance Matrix of Orbiting Spacecraft Bodies

摘要

This paper presents the method of moments (MoM)-based analysis for the computation of capacitance matrix and charge distribution of a three-dimensional spacecraft body. The integral equations which are formed by relating the unknown charge density on the satellite body represented by metallic cuboid and solar panel consisting of two rectangular plates to the potential on the surface of these bodies are solved using MoM. In order to apply the MoM, the surfaces of the metallic bodies are discretized using non-uniform triangular subsections. The numerical data on the capacitance and charge distribution of this structure are presented. The validity of this analysis has been established by comparing the data on capacitance available in the literature for metallic cuboid with metallic plates with the data on capacitance computed by the present method for similar structures.