Spacecraft charging and mitigation

Abstract

Satellites and spacecraft materials can become charged to tens or even thousands of volts when ions in the space environment collide with spacecraft. This can sometimes cause electrical discharge of differentially or internally charged spacecraft materials, which can adversely affect satellite operations. Additionally, high-energy ions can penetrate spacecraft materials and deposit their energy within sensitive electronics, causing component damage or failure. To consider various approaches for spacecraft charge mitigation, 150 technologists from around the world representing government, academia, and industry met at the 11th Spacecraft Charging Technology Conference (SCTC) in Albuquerque, N. M., on 20-24 September 2010. The conference was held against the backdrop of the apparent charging event of the Galaxy 15 satellite, which some speculate triggered this geosynchronous communications satellite to cease operations, thereby adversely affecting related satellite-reliant communities (see J. Allen, Space Weather, 8, S06008, doi:10.1029/2010SW000588, 2010). Copyright 2010 by the American Geophysical Union.