Plasma interactions monitoring system

Abstract

The plasma environment around the space station is expected to be different from that environment which occurs naturally at these altitudes because of the unprecedented size of the space station, its orbital motion, and its high power distribution system. Although there are models which predict the environment around the station, they do not take into account changes in configuration, changes in the natural and induced environments, nor interactions between the different environments. There will be unique perturbations associated with the space station, which will vary as the space station is being developed. Even after the developed space station has been completed environmental conditions will change as the payloads are changed and as the station systems and materials undergo degradation and modification. Because the space station will be a point of many varied activities the environment will continually undergo perturbations from effluents resulting from operations of the reboost module, EVA, airlock operations, and vacuum venting. The use of the Mobile Service Center will cause disturbances which cannot, at this time, be predicted. Also, the natural environment will be affected by solar flares. In addition, the operations of attached payloads, (e.g., ASTROMAG) themselves will undoubtedly cause perturbations to the ambient environment. Finally, the natural environment will change as a result of natural perturbations such as solar flares and geomagnetic storms