Evidence for differential charging on meteosat-2

Operational problems with Meteosat-1 led to a collaborative effort to furnish subsequent spacecraft with simple charging monitors and to study the geosynchronous environment in an attempt to better understand the charging process. The electron spectrometer on Meteosat-2 has yielded a continuous data...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of electrostatics Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 59 - 84
Main Authors Wrenn, G.L., Johnstone, A.D.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.10.1987
Elsevier
Subjects
Classical and quantum physics: mechanics and fields
Classical electromagnetism, maxwell equations
Classical field theories
Exact sciences and technology
Physics
Electrostatic electrification
Perturbation
Meteorological satellite
Spacecraft
Electrostatic charge
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Summary:Operational problems with Meteosat-1 led to a collaborative effort to furnish subsequent spacecraft with simple charging monitors and to study the geosynchronous environment in an attempt to better understand the charging process. The electron spectrometer on Meteosat-2 has yielded a continuous data set since 1982 which has clarified the role of plasmasheet electrons in the detailed current balance which controls spacecraft potentials. Continual observation of eclipse and partial shadowing features has illuminated the dominant role of photoelectrons and demonstrated that a safe clamping of differential voltages can be attained. An electron albedo index has been developed as an aid to assessing spacecraft liability to charging. The majority of anomalies experienced by Meteosat-2 are not directly caused by charging, an alternative natural cause has yet to be found [1].
ISSN:0304-3886
1873-5738
DOI:10.1016/0304-3886(87)90086-6