Spacecraft charging in the supra-auroral region

Conference · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA)

OSTI ID:6935196

Rubin, A G ^[1]

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1. Geophysics Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA (US)

Electrostatic charging of spacecraft in electrostatic shock acceleration regions above the auroras is predicted to occur. Electrostatic shocks are thought to produce the electron streams which generate auroras. These electron streams can charge spacecraft to high potentials in the altitude range from 3,000 to 8,000 kilometers in the auroral region. Ion beams accelerated upward in electrostatic shocks contribute to charging as well. It is shown that the potential can be at most the maximum potential across the shock. Charging is altitude dependent within a shock.

• OSTI ID: 6935196
• Report Number(s): CONF-890723--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA) Journal Volume: 36:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
CHARGE TRANSPORT
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
INTERACTIONS
LEPTONS
PLASMA PRODUCTION
PLASMA WAVES
SHOCK WAVES
SPACE VEHICLES
STRATOSPHERE
VEHICLES