DocumentCode :
996484
Title :
Bootstrap Surface Charging at GEO: Modeling and On-Orbit Observations From the DSCS-III B7 Satellite
Author :
Krause, Linda Habash ; Cooke, David L. ; Enloe, C.L. ; Font, Gabriel I. ; Lai, Shu T. ; McHarg, M.G. ; Putz, Victor
Author_Institution :
US Air Force Acad., Colorado Springs
Volume :
54
Issue :
6
fYear :
2007
Firstpage :
1997
Lastpage :
2003
Abstract :
We present an analysis of the charging interactivity between surrounding surface materials aboard a spacecraft at geosynchronous altitudes. In particular, bootstrap charging of a small surface may occur if is surrounded by a large negatively charged surface. Here, a negative potential barrier forms above the small surface, resulting in suppression of photo- and secondary electron emission from that surface. Additionally, the small surface experiences an enhancement of the collection of the photo- and secondary electrons emitted from the surrounding surface. This mechanism results in the charging of the small surface to higher levels than that of the patch in isolation, and in many cases the final potential will reach that of the potential of the larger surrounding surface. With this study we examine bootstrap charging behavior with model data and with data collected on orbit. We have modeled the DSCS-III B7 geosynchronous satellite with realistic geometry and spacecraft materials. Additionally, a previous study has shown that bootstrap charging has been observed on the DSCS-III B7 geosynchronous spacecraft. Both Astroquartz and Kapton cloth patches charged up to the frame potential of the satellite during periods of severe frame charging. The results of modeling bootstrap charging of a small Kapton patch floating relative to the DSCS-III frame fixed at a potential of -1,000 V show that the patch will indeed charge up negatively to match the frame potential, with the temporal increase in negative potential following an exponential time characteristic.
Keywords :
aerospace materials; artificial satellites; space vehicles; spacecraft charging; surface charging; DSCS-III B7 geosynchronous satellite; DSCS-III B7 geosynchronous spacecraft; bootstrap surface charging; geosynchronous earth orbit; on-orbit observations; photoelectron emission; secondary electron emission; spacecraft materials; Aircraft manufacture; Electron emission; Equations; Ionizing radiation; Laboratories; Plasma temperature; Satellites; Solid modeling; Space vehicles; Surface charging; Bootstrap charging; Defense Satellite Communication System (DSCS-III); GEO satellite charging; differential charging; spacecraft surface charging;
fLanguage :
English
Journal_Title :
Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on
Publisher :
ieee
ISSN :
0018-9499
Type :
jour
DOI :
10.1109/TNS.2007.909911
Filename :
4395049
Link To Document :
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