Accession Number:

ADA090508

Title:

Spacecraft Charging on ATS-5.

Descriptive Note:

Air Force surveys in geophysics,

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE GEOPHYSICS LAB HANSCOM AFB MA

Personal Author(s):

• Rubin,A. G.
• Garrett,H. B.
• Wendel,A. H.

Report Date:

1980-05-14

Pagination or Media Count:

13.0

Abstract:

The distribution of plasma electron and proton temperature at the time of spacecraft charging events during eclipse are obtained from ATS-5 data for 1969 to 1971. The mean RMS electron temperature is 3 keV and the highest value measure is 6.5 keV. The mean RMS ion temperature is 9 keV the highest value is 12 keV. The current-voltage characteristic curve shows that a threshold current for charging exists which is 0.000001 Asq m. The charging current has a narrow distribution around 0.0000015 Asq m. The spacecraft ground potential varies approximately linearly with RMS plasma electron temperature consistent with the behavior of a dielectric probe in a plasma. Author

Descriptors:

• *ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
• *CHARGE TRANSFER
• *PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
• *SYNCHRONOUS SATELLITES
• *SOLAR WIND
• IONS
• PROBES
• TEMPERATURE
• DIELECTRICS
• PROTONS
• ELECTRONS
• ECLIPSES

Subject Categories:

• Astrophysics
• Plasma Physics and Magnetohydrodynamics
• Unmanned Spacecraft

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE