Interactions between the space experiments with particle accelerators plasma contactor and the ionosphere

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 UTC 1994 · Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2514/3.26562· OSTI ID:57344

Katz, I; Neubert, T; Roberts, W T; Taylor, W W.L.; Beattie, J R ^[1]

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1. Maxwell Lab, Inc, San Diego, CA (United States)

Space experiments with particle accelerators (SEPAC) on Atlas-1 space transportation system (STS-45) included a plasma contactor to neutralize charge buildup on the orbiter due to electron accelerator operations. The SEPAC plasma contactor operated the same as it had during testing in the laboratory. During SEPAC electron accelerator operations, the contactor emitted currents that helped balance the electron beam current. The Langmuir probe measured the charge exchange ions and the thermal electrons emitted by the contactor. The electric field wave data showed an order of magnitude increase in the 4-8 MHz band. There were no reports of contactor operations interfering with either orbiter systems or other Atlas-1 experiments. 24 refs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 57344
• Journal Information: Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Journal Name: Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 31; ISSN JSCRAG; ISSN 0022-4650
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
66 PHYSICS
ACCELERATORS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTROSTATIC PROBES
IONOSPHERE
SWITCHES