Title :
Damaging effects of arcing on solar array surfaces
Author :
Vayner, Boris ; Ferguson, Dale ; Galofaro, Joel
Author_Institution :
Ohio Aerospace Institute, Cleveland, 44142, USA
Abstract :
Several different brands of solar cells and conventionally designed solar array samples were tested under simulated Low Earth Orbit and Geosynchronous Orbit conditions. The threshold parameters were determined for the inception of primary discharges and sustained arcs. These tests allow choosing a solar array design that provides the best suppression for differential charging-induced arcing.
Keywords :
Electrons; Low earth orbit satellites; Plasma density; Plasma measurements; Plasma simulation; Plasma temperature; Probes; Space vehicles; Testing; Vacuum arcs;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2008. PVSC '08. 33rd IEEE
Conference_Location :
San Diego, CA, USA
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-1640-0
Electronic_ISBN :
0160-8371
DOI :
10.1109/PVSC.2008.4922712