High-voltage space-plasma interactions measured on the PASP Plus test arrays
The Photovoltaic Array Space Power Plus Diagnostics (PASP Plus) experiment was developed by the Air Force`s Phillips Laboratory with support from NASA`s Lewis Research Center. It was launched on the Advanced Photovoltaic and Electronics EXperiments (APEX) satellite on August 3, 1994 into a 70 degree inclination, 363 km by 2550 km elliptical orbit. This orbit allows the investigation of space plasma effects on high-voltage operation (leakage current at positive voltages and arcing at negative voltages) in the perigee region. PASP Plus is testing twelve solar arrays. There are four planar Si arrays: an old standard type (used as a reference), the large-cell Space Station Freedom (SSF) array, a thin `APSA` array, and an amorphous Si array. Next are three GaAs on Ge planar arrays and three new material planar arrays, including InP and two multijunction types. Finally, there are two concentrator arrays: a reflective-focusing Mini-Cassegrainian and a Fresnel-lens focusing Mini-Dome. PASP Plus`s diagnostic sensors include: Langmuir probe to measure plasma density, an electrostatic analyzer (ESA) to measure the 30 eV to 30 KeV electron/ion spectra and determine vehicle negative potential during positive biasing, and a transient pulse monitor (TPM) to characterize the arcs that occur during the negative biasing. Through positive biasing of its test arrays, PASP Plus investigated the snapover phenomenon, which took place over the range of +100 to +300 V. It was found that array configurations where the interconnects are shielded from the space plasma (i.e., the concentrators or arrays with `wrap-through` connectors) have lower leakage current. The concentrators exhibited negligible leakage current over the whole range up to +500 V. In the case of two similar GaAs on Ge arrays, the one with `wrap-through` connectors had lower leakage current than the one with conventional interconnects. Through negative biasing, PASP Plus investigated the arcing rates of its test arrays.
- Research Organization:
- NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 177675
- Report Number(s):
- N-96-15042; NASA-CP-10180; NAS-1.55:10180; E-9943; NIPS-95-05337; CONF-9510288-; TRN: 9615074
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 14. space photovoltaic research and technology conference, Cleveland, OH (United States), 24-26 Oct 1995; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the 14th Space Photovoltaic Research and Technology Conference (SPRAT 14); Landis, G.; PB: 47 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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