Recent experimental measurements of space platform charging at LEO altitudes

The estimation of the extent of electrical charging of space platforms at low earth orbit (LEO) altitudes has been a subject of interest for a number of years. Early estimates based on theoretical current-voltage relationships of Langmuir and Blodgett and Parker and Murphy predicted a wide range of possible electrical potentials for a platform being actively charged at LEO altitudes. The experimental success of early electron beam experiments suggested that the early theories were incomplete. This has led to the development of space experiments specifically designed to study the degree of electrical charging resulting from electron beam emission, and also supplementary experiments to determine the current voltage relationship of large structures biassed to high voltages in the LEO environment. The paper will discuss some of the results of vehicle electrical potential from recent sounding rocket experiments involving charging of a space platform by both electron beam emission, and by the application of differential bias between elements of the platform.     

航天器介质材料深层充放电实验与数值模拟

空间辐射环境中高能电子诱发的介质材料深层充放电效应是威胁航天器安全的重要因素之一. 本文采用不同束流强度的电子枪电子, 研究了不同厚度的聚酰亚胺薄膜的深层充电过程; 利用Sr90放射源电子模拟GEO轨道高能电子环境, 研究了在其辐照下聚甲醛树脂和聚四氟乙烯材料的表面电位变化; 实验观测了深层放电产生的电流脉冲和电场脉冲. 提出了深层充电模型, 较好地模拟了实验测量结果, 并且分析了深层充电平衡电位和平衡时间随电子束流强度和介质电阻率的变化规律. 实验和数值模拟结果初步揭示了深层充放电效应的特征及规律, 表明深层充电现象随着电子束流强度和介质电阻率的增加而趋于明显, 介质电阻率是影响深层充电平衡电位和平衡时间的主要因素.      

Local orbital debris flux study in the geostationary ring

A local orbital debris flux analysis is performed in the geostationary (GEO) ring to investigate how frequently near-miss events occur for each longitude slot in the GEO ring. The current resident space object (RSO) environment at GEO is evaluated, and publicly-available two-line element (TLE) data are utilized in tandem with a geostationary torus configuration to simulate near-miss events incurred by the trackable RSO population at GEO. Methodology for determining near-miss events with this formulation is introduced, and the results of the analysis for a one-year time frame are provided to illustrate the need for active GEO remediation.     

Laboratory experiments on spacecraft charging and its neutralization

Simulation experiments on spacecraft charging in space plasma and its neutralization are performed in relation to the electron beam experiment (SEPAC) on Space Shuttle Spacelab 1. A spacecraft simulator or a spherical probe is immersed in a magnetized plasma and a positive high voltage with respect to the plasma is externally applied to it. The current-voltage characteristics follow quite well with the theoretical model of Parker and Murphy [1] in the low voltage, low pressure region. When the voltage rises to more than the ionization potential of the surrounding neutral gas, it departs from the model and the effect of plasma production by the electron current becomes very important. The same kind of ionization effect as this has also been observed in our rocket experiments with an electron beam. The enhancement of the ionization effect by an additional neutral gas injection causes a considerable suppression of the potential rise of a spacecraft emitting an electron beam. This is demonstrated with the SEPAC accelerators in a large space chamber experiment.     

基于BP神经网络的GEO等离子体环境参数反演分析

空间等离子体环境诱发的表面充电效应会对航天器运行产生干扰，严重时将导致太阳电池等部件失效。通过神经网络反演方法，以GEO环境中介质表面充电电位曲线作为输入，在双峰麦克斯韦分布假设下，可以逆向得到高能峰的等离子体参数。分析了GEO等离子体环境参数对表面充电电位曲线的影响，表明高能峰在充电过程中起决定性作用；其次通过MATLAB搭建BP神经网络，采用COMSOL计算得到多组充电曲线进行网络训练和反演计算，得到等离子体密度反演的平均相对误差为0.42%，温度反演的平均相对误差为0.03%，整体误差在0.1%～5.6%。结果表明，采用神经网络对等离子体环境进行反演具有可行性，该方法可以作为空间等离子体环境探测结果的对比参考和航天器非探测点表面电位计算的输入条件。     

Orbit improvement for GTO objects using follow-up observations

The Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern was and is conducting several search campaigns for space debris in the geostationary ring (GEO) and the geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). First tests to build up a catalogue of satellites and space debris were performed recently. As the discovery observations of an object usually cover a time interval of a few minutes only, the first orbits determined are assumed to be circular. For GEO objects a circular orbit is a rather good approximation. This is certainly not the case for GTO objects. Nevertheless, a circular orbit seems to be an acceptable approximation for a short time interval around the observations. The first orbits can be used to acquire follow-up observations, which allow the determination of elliptical orbits. The maximum allowed time span between the detection and the follow-up for a successful recovery is found using simulated GTO orbits and observations. Further follow-up observations are simulated in order to study the orbit improvement process and the required force model. The accuracy of orbits needed to build up a catalogue is studied. The simulations are compared to the results achieved with observations acquired by the 1 m telescope on Tenerife.     

Symmetric model of spacecraft charging and plasma emission effects

The electrostatic charging of satellites in space and the interactions with the plasma in the near surroundings are investigated by making use of symmetric models. In this case, the Vlasov-Poisson system describing the ambient plasma disturbances and the plasma emitted from the surface can be integrated self-consistently within a numerical iteration scheme, and the current balance yields the floating potential of the probe. The spacecraft charging and the potentials in its surroundings are investigated for the following plasma and emission conditions: (1) in the ionosphere in the case of very negative surface potentials, (2) in the solar wind with regard to the HELIOS mission and (3) in the near vicinity of the comet Halley, where a very strong plasma emission due to the impact of neutral gases onto the surface must be regarded. Finally, the importance of the shielding due to the ambient plasma is discussed.     

Electron beam experiments in Japanese satellites and rockets

Electron beam experiments in space that have been done and planned in Japan are reviewed. 200eV, 1mA electron beam is emitted from a satellite and several types of wave excitation such as UHF and ω_ce have been observed. The satellite potential and the energy spectrum of returning electrons are measured by Langmuir probes and electrostatic energy analyser. In rocket experiments of K-10-11, K-10-12, K-9M-57, K-9M-58, K-9M-61 and K-9M-66, several types of electron guns were used whose power ranges from 1mW to 1KW. The rocket potential was measured by Langmuir probes and floating probes and optical line emission measurement and wave measurements were also done. The rocket potential was not so high as expected from the balance with ionospheric plasma but strongly affected by the plasma production by the emitted electron beam and return electrons.     

部署retro-GEO巡视器的月球借力飞行轨道分析

retro-GEO是指逆行（retrograde）地球静止轨道（geostationary Earth orbit, GEO），该轨道与GEO轨道高度相同或相近，但倾角为180°，安装在retro-GEO卫星上的巡视器可每12h对GEO带空间资产附近碎片环境安全预警。直接西向发射retro-GEO卫星存在地面测控和发射能耗较大的困难。基于平面四体模型，为降低设计变量敏感性，以近月点参数为设计变量，建立了部署retro-GEO巡视器的月球借力飞行轨道设计模型，利用轨道动力学模型延拓策略，得到该类轨道绕月后返回地球飞行时长只能约为114.79h，该结论可用于求解该类轨道高精度轨道动力学模型解。     

The Space Environment Monitors of Shenzhou Manned Spacecrafts

For the purpose of ensuring normal operations of Shenzhou (SZ) series of manned spacecrafts and cosmonauts' safety, Space Environment Monitors (SEM)are mounted on board SZ-2, 3, 4, 5. SEMs aim to detect the high energy particles, the low energy particles, charging potential, atmospheric desity and composition. Detection of SEMs enable us to understand better the space environment in the manned spacecraft's orbit, and to provide a good space environment services for the spacecraft and cosmonauts. In addition, by using the data from SEMs, we have achieved some scientific accomplishments, such as the energy spectra of precipitating electrons, the abnormal variety of atmospheric density and composition during geomagnetic disturbances, the electron angle distribution in the low orbit and so on.     

航天器介质深层充电模拟研究

针对航天器介质深层充电问题,提出了一种基于蒙特卡罗模拟和充电动力学RIC模型的介质电荷分布及电场预估新方法,利用地面试验验证了其正确性.航天器介质平板充电过程被简化为屏蔽铝板与分层介质组成的Geant 4模型,通过统计方法计算出了实际入射束流下Teflon介质内的注入电流密度和剂量率分布曲线,利用RIC模型获得了背面接地时介质中的电荷密度和电场分布,利用脉冲电声法(PEA)对不同束流密度辐照下的Teflon内部空间电荷密度进行了测量.数值模拟和地面试验结果表明,Teflon在100 keV能量电子辐照下,电荷密度和电场随着束流密度的增加而不断增大,其电荷密度峰值位置约为0.042 mm,且背面接地时接地侧电场最大.由于Geant 4粒子输运模拟和RIC模型具有通用性,因此该方法适用于各种航天器介质材料.      

Evolution of the orbital elements for objects with high area-to-mass ratios in geostationary transfer orbits

A new population of uncatalogued objects in geosynchronous Earth orbits (GEO), with a mean motion of about 1 rev/day and eccentricities up to 0.6, has been identified recently. The first observations of this new type of objects were acquired in the framework of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) search for space debris in GEO and the geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) using the ESA 1-m telescope on Tenerife. Earlier studies have postulated that the perturbations due to the solar radiation pressure can lead to such large eccentricities for GEO objects with a high area-to-mass ratio (A/M). The simulations showed that the eccentricities of GEO objects with large A/M exhibit periodic variations with periods of about one year and amplitudes depending on the value of A/M. The findings of these studies could be confirmed by observations from the ESA 1-m telescope on Tenerife.     

Feasibility analysis of LEO and GEO large space debris de/re-orbiting taking into account launch mass of spacecraft-collector and its configuration layout

Analysis of the efficiency of two basic strategies for de/re-orbiting large space debris objects to disposal orbits (DO) is given. Large objects in LEO are classified into groups with similar orbital inclinations and comprise primarily last stages of launch vehicles, in GEO vicinity the paper studies upper stages. Under the first de/re-orbiting variant, it is assumed a spacecraft-collector is equipped with several thruster de/re-orbiting kits (TDKs); one of them can be fixed on an object and is capable of de/re-orbiting an object to a DO independently of the collector. In the second variant, a collector operates as a space tug: transfers objects to a DO and then returns to the next objects in line. The authors study possible configuration layouts of collectors in LEO and near GEO. The available analogous projects are analyzed. The efficiency of both de/re-orbiting variants can be properly compared using the estimations of collector's dry mass and having at one's disposal the parameters of the maneuvers required for transfers between all objects in the group. As reasonable criteria of effectiveness, one can consider (separately or jointly) the launch mass of an equipped collector, its ΔV budget, and the required number of such active spacecraft. Two de/re-orbiting variants are compared in terms of these criteria via mass-energy diagrams constructed for each group of objects in both altitude regions. Analysis of these diagrams shows that low Earth orbits can be more efficiently cleaned under the first de-orbiting variant by using a two-stage space system consisting of an active spacecraft carrying TDKs. For GEO, it is expedient to choose the second re-orbiting variant using a single-stage spacecraft. Our analysis shows that LEO cleaning is an order of magnitude more expensive than that for GEO, hence the problem of LEO population should be given increased attention.     

Negative body potential as result of modulated electron beam emission into ambient plasma

Two different processes play an important role during emission of pulsed electron beam from a satellite: the positive charging of the spacecraft by emitted electron current and the body neutralization by ambient plasma electrons (mainly in pauses between electron pulses).

The injection of modulated electron beam (pulses of 2μs duration, E=8keV, I=0.1A and 25μs repetition) was carried on in the APEX Project. A simple computer model of this process for APEX scenario was performed.

The results show that after primary positive charging (during gun operation) a significant negative charging (in pauses between pulses) caused by neutralization process by ambient plasma with fp>2MHz takes place.     

航天器介质放电脉冲频谱特征实验研究

空间电子辐射环境下,航天器介质的充放电效应是威胁航天器安全的重要因素.介质放电现象除与材料参数及构型相关外,还与空间电子环境密切相关.本文通过电子枪和Sr90放射源在地面实验装置上模拟空间电子辐照环境,测试了环氧树脂、聚四氟乙烯、聚酰亚胺等常见空间材料在不同温度、不同电子能量和电子束流强度影响下的放电脉冲,并对放电电流脉冲和电场脉冲进行频谱分析.实验分析结果表明,介质材料的放电电流脉冲频谱具有明显的单峰结构,该峰值与材料厚度和入射电子能量相关,但受材料温度和辐照束流强度影响不大.      

卫星介质深层充电的两类计算模型对比分析

计算模拟是评估航天器介质深层充电危害的重要研究方法之一. 通过粒子输运 模拟, 可以得到特定空间辐射环境下介质中的电荷沉积分布, 进而根据电位/电 场计算模型, 得到深层充电结果. 前期研究多是围绕RIC (辐射诱导电导率)模 型及其改进模型展开的, 而目前通常采用基于电流守恒定律的简单计算模型. 为了研究二者关系, 给出其各自求解方法, 并采用已发表数据对计算结果进行 验证; 从理论上阐述了后者是RIC模型的进一步简化, 只要二者考虑相同的介 质电导率, 则对应计算结果就是一致的; 结合GEO恶劣电子辐射环境下平板介 质模型在三类边界条件下的充电情况, 进行了充分的仿真验证. 相关结论为介 质深层充电效应评估提供了有益参考.      

太阳帆板驱动机构内带电效应试验

太阳帆板驱动机构（Solar Array Drive Assembly,SADA）是长寿命、大功率航天器能源系统的关键部件.在空间高能电子环境下,SADA内部会发生静电放电甚至诱发二次放电,导致航天器丧失能源.利用双束加速器建立试验平台,对SADA进行内带电效应试验.试验中高能电子束的电子能量为2MeV,束流密度为5pA·cm-2,模拟SADA工作电压为50~150V,工作电流为0.5~1.5A.试验样品充电电位在辐照5h后达到平衡,形成的电场约为5×106V·m-1.相同工作电流下的放电次数随工作电压增大而明显增加,说明工作电压形成的电场与高能电子沉积形成的电场叠加会增加SADA发生放电的风险.依据试验结果,提出SADA抗内带电设计方案:一是降低SADA介质盘的体电阻率;二是改进导电环结构体的结构设计,降低导电环间电压在介质盘上形成的电场.      

太阳帆板驱动机构的表面充放电效应研究

空间等离子体环境效应导致的卫星表面充放电是造成卫星在轨工作异常及故障的重要原因之一. 太阳帆板驱动机构（Solar Array Drive Assembly,SADA）是长寿命、大功率卫星电传输环节的关键部件,易成为充放电效应的对象,可使卫星丧失能源,导致整星失效. 为验证空间等离子体环境导致的表面充放电对SADA特别是其功率传输可靠性和安全性的影响,利用等离子体环境模拟试验装置,模拟地球同步轨道（Geostationary Orbit,GEO）等离子体环境,针对SADA进行试验研究. 结果表明,使用两种不同绝缘材料的SADA在空间等离子体模拟环境下表现没有明显区别,表面充放电未对设计合理的SADA正常工作造成明显影响. 研究结果对未来GEO轨道SADA等空间机构的可靠性和安全性设计具有一定指导意义.      

The classical Laplace plane as a stable disposal orbit for geostationary satellites

The classical Laplace plane is a frozen orbit, or equilibrium solution for the averaged dynamics arising from Earth oblateness and lunisolar gravitational perturbations. The pole of the orbital plane of uncontrolled GEO satellites regress around the pole of the Laplace plane at nearly constant inclination and rate. In accordance with Friesen et al. (1993), we show how this stable plane can be used as a robust long-term disposal orbit. The current graveyard regions for end-of-life retirement of GEO payloads, which is several hundred kilometers above GEO depending on the spacecraft characteristics, cannot contain the newly discovered high area-to-mass ratio debris population. Such objects are highly susceptible to the effects of solar radiation pressure exhibiting dramatic variations in eccentricity and inclination over short periods of time. The Laplace plane graveyard, on the contrary, would trap this debris and would not allow these objects to rain down through GEO. Since placing a satellite in this inclined orbit can be expensive, we discuss some alternative disposal schemes that have acceptable cost-to-benefit ratios.     

材料次级电子发射特性对表面充电影响的数值计算研究

表面充电是最早被人们发现的空间环境效应, 是由空间环境引起的航天器异常和故障的主要诱因之一. 采用较精确的金属二次电子发射公式和局部电流平衡模型, 在无光照的情况下, 对不同表面材料及不同几何形体的航天器表面充电电位进行计算, 并绘制了表面材料的充电电位与最大二次电子发射系数之间的关系曲线. 根据数值计算结果及次级电子发射系数和曲线图得知, 航天器阴面充电电位与表面材料的原子序数、最大二次电子发射系数和入射离子引起的次级发射系数均有关. 该计算对航天器表面材料的选取和设计工艺有一定的参考价值.