The cluster spacecraft are instrumented with ion emitters for charge neutralization. The emitters produce indium ions at 6 keV. The ion current is adjusted in a feedback loop with instruments measuring the spacecraft potential. The system is based on the evaporation of indium in the apex field of a needle. The design of the active spacecraft potential control instruments, and the ion emitters is presented.
Active spacecraft potential control: An ion emitter experiment
1988-10-01
Conference paper
No indication
English
Active Spacecraft Potential Control: an ion emitter experiment for Cluster
British Library Online Contents | 1993
|Active control of electric potential of spacecraft
NTRS | 1977
|Analysis of Cluster spacecraft potential during active control
Online Contents | 2005
|Analysis of Cluster spacecraft potential during active control
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2005
|