Extreme Spacecraft Charging in Polar Low Earth Orbit

摘要: Abstract submitted to: American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2012 San Francisco, Calfornia, 3 – 7 December http://fallmeeting.agu.org/2012/SM021 Space Weather Effects on Spacecraft, Aircraft, and Ground Systems Extreme Spacecraft Charging in Polar Low Earth Orbit Andrew D. Colson Telescope Science Institute Baltimore, Maryland USA Joseph I. Minow NASA, Marshall Flight Center Huntsville, Alabama Linda Neergaard Parker Jacobs Technology, ESSA Group AL low altitude, high inclination (including sun-synchronous) orbits are widely used for remote sensing of the Earth’s land surface oceans, monitoring weather climate, communications, scientific studies upper atmosphere ionosphere, a variety other scientific, commercial, military applications. These systems episodically charge to frame potentials kilovolt range when exposed space environments characterized by flux energetic (~10’s kilovolt) electrons regions background plasma density which is similar some ways conditions geostationary orbit responsible spacecraft charging levels. We first review physics environment interactions with materials that control auroral rates anticipated maximum should be observed surfaces during disturbed conditions. then describe how theoretical values compare observational history extreme environments. Finally, set DMSP events described varying negative potential from ~0.6 kV ~2 kV, focusing characteristics importance both system designer operators. The goal presentation bridge gap between need engineering teams understand impacts design operations vehicles orbital trajectories traverse