Spacecraft charging threatens to disable spacecraft components and adversely impact any satellite function. Electrostatic charge, and especially discharge, can hinder the proper operation of, or destroy, spacecraft components, thereby rendering the spacecraft ineffective or inoperative. The level of charging is dependent on the particle energy (speed) distribution. Current spacecraft design and material provide limited protection against the dangers of electrostatic discharge, and active measures such as beam emission are also employed.


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    Title :

    Spacecraft Charging at Geosynchronous Altitudes: Current-Balance and Critical Temperature in a Non-Maxwellian Plasma


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    2003


    Size :

    92 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English