A Review of the Space Environment Effects on Spacecraft in Different Orbits

Yifan Lu,Qi Shao,Honghao Yue,Fei Yang

doi:10.1109/access.2019.2927811

Yifan Lu, Qi Shao + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2019.2927811

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Abstract

The space environment consists of various complex phenomena, which could have a strong influence on the spacecraft operation in different aspects. Since the very beginning of space exploration, numerous studies have been done on the space environment. However, most of the existing literature focuses on the investigation of the details of environmental phenomena, while the space environment has rarely been discussed from the perspective of orbits types. Therefore, a comprehensive review on analyzing and comparing the environmental characteristics among diverse orbits in space is of great significance. In this paper, the main components of the space environment are introduced, including the neutral atmosphere, the plasma environment, the radiation environment, the macroscopic particle environment, the geomagnetic field, the temperature field, and the solar activities. The relations of the various space environmental components are also discussed. The dominant environmental components and their effects on spacecraft in different orbits, i.e., the geosynchronous orbit (GEO), the low earth orbit (LEO), the medium earth orbit (MEO), and the high earth orbit (HEO), are investigated, respectively. The space environment that should be taken into particular consideration is summed up to facilitate the design of the spacecraft in a specific orbit.

Highlights

More and more spacecraft are placed at different altitudes due to the momentous strategic position of space exploration
The environmental components primarily considered for spacecraft in low earth orbit (LEO) contain the neutral atmosphere, ionospheric plasma, the inner radiation belt, macroscopic particle environment, the temperature field, and the geomagnetic field
Due to its low altitude, LEO is the main affected region of the upper atmosphere and the geomagnetic field, which are peculiar to LEO

Summary

INTRODUCTION

More and more spacecraft are placed at different altitudes due to the momentous strategic position of space exploration. To ensure the reliability of spacecraft operation in the long term, particular emphasis should be put on eliminating the main impacts of the space environment on the spacecraft in different orbits. A review of the space environment and its effects on spacecraft in different orbits are given. Y. Lu et al.: Review of the Space Environment Effects on Spacecraft in Different Orbits. The main space environment components are briefly investigated, including the neutral atmosphere, the plasma, the radiation, the macroscopic particles, the geomagnetic field, the temperature field, and solar activities. The purpose of this paper is to provide a description of the space environment effects that need to be concerned in different orbits, and to serve as guidance for spacecraft maintenance. What should be noted is that the orbit-attitude perturbation analysis is not within the scope of this paper

THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT COMPONENTS NASA

Findings

CONCLUSIONS