High-level Spacecraft Charging Environments Near Geosynchronous Orbit

Download or read book High-level Spacecraft Charging Environments Near Geosynchronous Orbit written by E. G. Mullen and published by . This book was released on 1982 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: High-level spacecraft charging events in sunlight are discussed and statistically analyzed to determine environmental parameters critical to charging and the region of space near geosynchronous altitude where charging occurs. Significant levels of spacecraft charging are shown to occur only between 1900 LT and 0900 LT at any altitude or latitude of the SCATHA satellite orbit. High-level charging is shown to occur only during periods when the magnetic activity index is 2+ or greater. Distribution functions of energetic electrons and ions are presented for 3 high-level charging periods on days 114, 241 and 363, 1979. Moments of the distribution functions are determined, and fitting techniques used to derive two-Maxwellian densities and temperatures are discussed. Results are provided in a format usable in satellite design specifications.