Surface charging effect of the satellite SMILE

Abstract

When the satellite is on orbit, the surrounding plasma environment will interact with the spacecraft surface, accumulate charges on the spacecraft surface and cause surface charging effect, which could lead to electrostatic discharge and affect the running of the spacecraft. SMILE is a satellite operating in a solar synchronous and high inclination large elliptical orbit. The on-orbit motion will encounter ionospheric plasma, magnetospheric plasma and solar wind plasma, pass through the region of the outer radiation belt enriched by high-energy electrons. These environmental factors can cause the surface charging effect on satellite and affect on-orbit security of the satellite and the acquisition of scientific data. Utilizing the software simulation of spacecraft plasma interaction system, the charging effects of SMILE satellite surface in solar wind plasma, magnetic tail plasma and extremely harsh plasma environment have been simulated, and the charging potential distribution on its surface have been obtained. The results show that the surface charging potential varies in different environments, but all comfort with the design requirements. The analysis of surface current shows that the secondary electron emission has great influence on surface charging in various plasma environments. Under sun illumination, photoelectron emission dominates surface charging. By analyzing the charge current on the surface on the eclipse, the calculated results can supply the experimental curve of the secondary electron emission coefficient of indium tin oxide materials.