Radiation Electrification of Spacecraft Leeward Surfaces by Auroral Electrons in the Ionosphere

A methodology of the physical modeling of radiation electrification of the leeward surfaces of the materials used to construct space vehicles by auroral electrons, when the vehicles are flown supersonically around by the ionospheric plasma at low and middle heights, is developed. Based on laboratory modeling, numerical experiments, and in situ observations, the dependencies of charging levels and equilibrium potentials on the ratio of the auroral electron density to the positive ions in the near wake behind the body and in the undisturbed plasma are determined.     

Radiative Electrification of Spacecraft Construction Elements: Physical Modeling of Charge Accumulation and Neutralization

The basic principles of physical modeling of spacecraft radiative electrification in the ionosphere and the magnetosphere are formulated. It is shown that recorded cyclograms and current pulses of discharges provide complete information on the electrophysical properties of materials. The efficiency of plasma neutralization of electro-radiative effects depends on the density of low temperature plasma and the structure of the irradiated surface.     

Power Losses of Solar Arrays under the Action of an Environment in a Geosynchronous Orbit

We derive calculated and experimental relations characterizing the reduction in the electric power of solar arrays under prolonged (∼10 years) action of the environment in orbit. The influence of separate factors related to the environment on the loss of solar arrays power is studied. The following factors are considered: ionizing and ultraviolet emissions, contamination of protective glass by the products of destruction of the outer surface materials of spacecraft, thermal cycling, radiation electrization, and plasma thrusters plumes.__________Translated from Kosmicheskie Issledovaniya, Vol. 43, No. 4, 2005, pp. 274–282.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Shuvalov, Kochubei, Gubin, Tokmak.     

The Main Results and the Perspectives in the Researches at SSRT

In this report briefly presented the contemporary state of the experimental base of Radio Astrophysical Observatory (RAO) of the Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP), the methodology of radioheliographic monitoring of the solar corona, the SSRT database, the RAO Web-pages, factors limiting the effective use of SSRT. Here are formulated the original results of the basic directions of the solar activity researches and the problems solutions on SSRT: (1) active regions at various development stages, morphology, modeling,signs of energy accumulation and flares buildup, forecast of powerful flares; (2) scenario, topology and the fine temporal picture of flares development, signs of primary energy release, radio emission mechanisms, scatter effects of radio emission in turbulent corona, energetic particles fluxes; (3) filaments; (4) CME with the localization of their initiation at the solar disk background, development scenario of filament activation + CME +flare; (5) coronal holes, and (6) bright coronal points.