Internal Charging Environmental Specification for Geosynchronous and HEO/Molniya Satellites

摘要

Internal charging has been indicated as the cause of many satellite anomalies. In some cases, it has been argued that internal charging has caused satellite system failures. An internal charging environment specification is needed by satellite manufacturers for setting design requirements. A specification is also required for providing energetic electron flux levels and total fluence levels for electron beam testing to verify that critical systems are immune to internal charging, for performing tests on subsystems, and for use in anomaly investigation programs. We present preliminary internal charging environment specifications that have been developed for some commonly used orbits such as geosynchronous and Molniya or high Earth orbits (HEO) and show what they predict as shielding requirements to reduce worst case electron fluxes to safe levels.