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A spacecraft charging study on the SCEX 3 rocketInstruments on the SCEX 3 rocket payload were used to study charging during electron beam emissions. The data show that electrostatic analyzers can be used to measure vehicle charging and direct beam return currents in dense plasma conditions. The data also show return current dependencies on pitch angle, beam current and beam energy. It is found that if the proper care is taken, ESAs can be used to detect charging on vehicles in low altitude orbits which are contaminated with high levels of outgassing and in dense plasma regimes. These results are particularly important for the TSS-1 electrodynamic tether program where ESAs are being used to determine Shuttle charging levels during tether employment and to look for high fluxes of directly returning electrons during electron generator operations to balance the Shuttle charging.
Document ID
19920041443
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Mullen, E. G.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Gussenhoven, M. S.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Hardy, D. A.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Murphy, G. P.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Lloyd, J. W. F.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Slutter, W.
(USAF, Phillips Laboratory, Hanscom AFB MA, United States)
Malcolm, P.
(U.S. Air Force Academy Colorado Springs, CO, United States)
Kellogg, P. J.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Monson, S.
(Minnesota, University Minneapolis, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science
Volume: 38
ISSN: 0018-9499
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Accession Number
92A24067
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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