spacecraft power supply, solar array, spacecraft charging, aerospace environment, plasma interference, high voltage electrode array, insulation panel, electric discharge, large space structure
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
Tokyo Institute of Technology
出版者
宇宙航空研究開発機構
出版者(英)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
雑誌名
宇宙航空研究開発機構特別資料
雑誌名(英)
JAXA Special Publication: 9th Spacecraft Charging Technology Conference
巻
JAXA-SP-05-001E
ページ
234 - 239
発行年
2005-08-01
抄録(英)
We are studying the problems associated with high voltage power systems in space. Especially we are interested in the potential distribution of the solar array that is resistant to the electrical discharge. We have carried out experiments on the interaction between the high voltage solar array and the ambient plasma. In the experiment, an array of electrodes distributed on the insulation panel was used to simulate the inter-connectors of the solar array. An electrode array without the insulator panel was also used for comparison to study the effect of the insulator. One of major concerns in the usage of the high voltage solar array in space is the arc discharge on the array. Based on the plasma sheath theories, there is a possibility to control or to prevent the discharge by selecting a potential distribution of the electrode array. As the first step to find the potential distribution that is tolerate to the discharge, we measured the distribution of space potential surrounding an array of electrodes and measured the current to the electrodes. This paper presents the experimental results suggesting that we can control the discharge by selecting a proper potential distribution of the high voltage solar array.