Numerical analysis of interaction of a high-voltage solar array withionospheric plasma

Abstract

Three-dimensional analysis of the solar array that exposes the surfaces at a relatively high potential and flies in the ionospheric plasma was conducted. For the standard ionospheric conditions, the drain power was calculated at about 0.3% of the solar generated power, which is rather insignificant. On the other hand, the ion forces were found to be enhanced by the large electric potential difference between the solar array and the plasma and must affect significantly the motion of spacecraft with the neutral particle drag. Nomenclature c = unit cord vector = s x n D = characteristic length of solar array d = thickness of space charge sheath d = unit vector of ion drag = - u e - charge of electron F - vector of total ion force / = normalized charge density k = Boltzmann constant lie - ion-electron mean free path / = unit vector of ion lift = dxp M =ion molecular mass N,n = dimensional and nondimensional particle densities n =unit normal vector on conductive surface of solar array P, Q = collision and reflection momenta