Space shuttle charging or beam-plasma discharge: What can electron spectrometer observations contribute to solving the question

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 UTC 1988 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA093iA05p04134· OSTI ID:5940273

Watermann, J; Wilhelm, K ^[1]; Torkar, K M; Riedler, W ^[2]

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1. Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Aeronomie, Katlenburg-Lindau (West Germany)
2. Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz (Austria)

Several cooperative plasma experiments were carried out on board Spacelab-1, the ninth payload of the Space Transportation System (STS-9). Among them, the electron spectrometer 1ES019A was designed to observe 01.-12.5 keV electron fluxes with high temporal and spatial resolution, while the SEPAC electron beam accelerator emitted electron beams with currents up to 280 mA and maximum energies of 5 keV. Since the question of orbiter charging to high voltages has controversially been discussed in several publications on STS-3 and STS-9 electron beam experiments, an attempt is made to relate information from the return electron flux observed during the SEPAC operations to the vehicle charging interpretation. A close examination reveals that most of our observations can be understood if the occurrence of a beam-plasma discharge is assumed at least for electron beam intensities above 100 mA. This would provide a substantial return current capability. High orbiter charging effects during electron beam accelerator electron emissions are consequently not supported by the observations.

• OSTI ID: 5940273
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 93:A5; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AIRCRAFT
BEAM INJECTION
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
BEAMS
CHARGE COLLECTION
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON SPECTRA
IONOSPHERE
LEPTON BEAMS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
SPACE SHUTTLES
SPACE VEHICLES
SPECTRA
SPECTROMETERS
VEHICLES