The interaction of spacecraft high voltage power systems with the space plasma environment

Abstract

The development of spacecraft with electrical loads that require high voltage power is discussed. The high voltage solar array has been considered for supplying d.c. power directly to high voltage loads such as ion thrusters and communication tubes without intermediate power processing. Space power stations for transferring solar power to earth are being studied in the 40 kilovolt, multikilowatt regime. Analytical and experimental studies have determined that with the advent of high voltage power, new problems will arise through the interaction of the high voltage surfaces with the charged particle environment of space. The interactive environment has been identified and duplicated to some extent in simulation facilities at NASA-Lewis Research Center and at several contractor locations