Questions tagged [spacecraft-charging]
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11
questions
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1answer
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Why do satellites have capacitance? [closed]
In some comments on this forum I read that satellites have capacitance of some nF or pF,
What is this about? How can I calculate it roughly?
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0answers
39 views
Do ISS crew worry about the ionosphere? Have hazards to EVAs or surface arcing and functional anomalies ever happened due to ionospheric charing?
Comments below this answer tell us that the International Space Station always remained in Earth's atmosphere. It orbits in the thermosphere and simultaneously the ionosphere.
This answer to How do ...
9
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1answer
672 views
Thrust of ion thruster when spacecraft is charged
I read in many articles and books that the thrust of an ion thruster is equal to
$$T = \sqrt{\frac{2M}{e}} I_b \sqrt{V_b} \ \ \text{[newtons]}$$
screenshot
where $V_b$ is the acceleration potential, ...
4
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1answer
250 views
How did three 1.2 meter spheres and a Xe+ plasma contactor keep the Shuttle “grounded”? What did they look like?
Statement of relevance
This answer to Highest DC voltage ever intentionally produced in space? mentions particle beam experiments done from the Space Shuttle while it flew through Earth's atmosphere ...
4
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0answers
131 views
Problems with spaceflight high voltage
What problem exists if the surface of the satellite is at a high positive potential in LEO?
What is the maximum voltage it could withstand?
is there any document about it?
3
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0answers
73 views
What is the maximum voltage of an Electric Sail?
Suppose we have an electric sail in LEO, how could one calculate the maximum voltage that could be sustained? It can't be infinite, there must be some limiting factors.
Is there any ionization voltage ...
4
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1answer
172 views
Is there any possible reason to direct the electron gun specifically towards the ion trail behind an ion thruster?
This answer to Neutralization of ions in the ion thruster quotes the introduction to Wikipedia's Ion thruster:
Temporarily stored electrons are finally reinjected by a neutralizer in the cloud of ...
8
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1answer
166 views
How is Parker Solar Probe so robust against coronal mass ejections?
Phys.org's Revealing the physics of the Sun with Parker Solar Probe quotes "Tim Horbury, a lead researcher on Parker Solar Probe's FIELDS instruments based at Imperial College London" as saying:
"...
8
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2answers
929 views
How do spacecraft measure their own charge?
The discussion in the NOAA legacy page Space Weather Prediction Center Topic Paper: Satellites and Space Weather (found here) lists:
Types of Spacecraft Anomalies
Spacecraft anomalies are ...
7
votes
1answer
201 views
Is a spacecraft able to measure it's current electric charge in some way? [duplicate]
In this question, there is discussion of charge buildup on a spacecraft.
Is it possible for a spacecraft to measure its own charge?
8
votes
2answers
395 views
How is charge dissipated in ion-propulsed spacecraft?
I understand that an ion-thruster will continuously charge its spacecraft with a charge opposite of the one of the ions it thrusts. Over a long journey this charge would be considerable. What would ...
