A numerical analysis of the time evolution of plasma wake structure around a simplified 2D cube satellite model

A two-dimensional numerical model was developed to study the time evolution of wake structure around a cube satellite moving in a plasma with transonic speed. The cube satellite was simplified to be a 2D metal cylinder with a square cross section. An electric potential is then applied to the metal cylinder. The numerical scheme was compared to the analytical solution for a 1D problem before being applied to the 2D model. The study provided an initial understanding of plasma behavior around the 2D cube satellite model when it is in its orbit.