The onset of spacecraft charging at geosynchronous altitudes occurs at a critical value of the space plasma electron temperature for a given spacecraft surface. Observations on LANL satellites show that the onset of charging occurs at a critical temperature in almost every charging event, no matter which satellite, which year and which month. The critical temperature values remain the same no matter in eclipse or sunlight. The satellite observations have confirmed the existence of critical temperature and the order of magnitude of the temperature values. Surface properties in space and in the laboratory are uncertain.


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    Title :

    Critical Temperature for the Onset of Spacecraft Charging -- The Full Story


    Contributors:
    S. T. Lai (author)

    Publication date :

    2008


    Size :

    11 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English