Active control of spacecraft potentials at geosynchronous orbitTests have been conducted concerning the active control of the potentials of the geosynchronous satellites ATS-5 and ATS-6. The ATS-5 tests show that a simple electron emitter can be used to reduce the magnitude of the potential of a spacecraft which has been charged negatively by the environment. The ATS-6 ion thruster had also a pronounced effect on the potential barrier. In this case, the flux of high-energy primary ions and of low-charge exchange ions produces a space-charge neutralization effect which the electron gun alone cannot achieve.
Document ID
19770029687
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Goldstein, R. (California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena Calif., United States)
Deforest, S. E. (Alabama, University Huntsville, Ala., United States)
Date Acquired
August 8, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1976
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Meeting Information
Meeting: Symposium on Spacecraft charging by magnetospheric plasmas