The Solar Array Module Plasma Interactions Experiment (SAMPIE): A shuttle-based plasma interaction experiment

The SAMPIE flight experiment, tentatively scheduled to fly on a shuttle mission in mid 1992, will investigate plasma interactions of high voltage space power systems. Solar cells representing a number of technologies will be biased to high voltage to study both negative potential arching and positive potential current collection characteristics. Additionally, several idealized metal/insulator mockups will be flown to study the basic nature of these interactions. Described here is the basic rationale for a space experiment as well as the measurements to be made and the significance of the expected results. The current design status of the flight hardware is presented.