Title :
A Simple Model of the Effect of Solar Array Orientation on SMART-1 Floating Potential
Author :
Hilgers, Alain ; Thiebault, Benoit ; Estublier, Denis L. ; Gengembre, Eric ; Del Amo, Jose Antonio Gonzalez ; Capacci, Marco ; Roussel, Jean-Francois ; Tajmar, Martin ; Forest, Julien
Author_Institution :
Eur. Space Agency, Noordwijk
Abstract :
Results from SMART-1 plasma measurements indicate that the spacecraft is, in general, floating 10 to 30 V negative with respect to the ambient plasma and that the floating potential varies with the orientation of the solar array with respect to the direction of the thrust. It is shown in this paper that a wake created behind the solar panel by the plasma generated in the plume by charge exchange and expanding toward the spacecraft may explain such a potential variation
Keywords :
aerospace propulsion; ion engines; plasma simulation; space vehicle power plants; space vehicles; SMART-1 floating potential; charge exchange; solar array orientation; space vehicle power system; space vehicle propulsion; spacecraft; Aircraft manufacture; Current measurement; Packaging; Plasma applications; Plasma diagnostics; Plasma measurements; Pollution measurement; Propulsion; Space technology; Space vehicles; Space vehicle power system; space vehicle propulsion;
Journal_Title :
Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TPS.2006.883405
