The Case for Global Positioning System Arcing and High Satellite Arc Rates

Abstract

The Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites arc into the space environment. Evidence for this consists of undispersed impulsive radio frequency signals are shown in the dual-frequency RF receivers, that are on-board all GPS satellites, with high rates that track the charging electron environment, detection of appropriate amplitude short-timescale pulses from GPS satellites at 327 and 430 MHz with the Arecibo 305-m Gordon radiotelescope that do not appear in off-source scans, and arcing on laboratory GPS-like solar arrays at voltages similar to those inferred from GPS arc thresholds. In addition, GPS satellites (up to the Block IIRM) have power degradation (in excess of that expected from radiation) of about 1.5% per year. This degradation is primarily in the short-circuit current, consistent with contamination on the solar array cover glasses, which was detected by a thermal monitor on one GPS satellite solar array, and to be consistent with the power degradation observed on a highly arced GPS-like laboratory solar array if extrapolated to GPS undispersed event rates. The GPS arc rates required for solar array contamination and consistent with the onboard observed event rates are very high, in fact, higher than the rates measured previously on SCATHA, CTS, and other satellites. It is conjectured that the effects of these arcs on satellite power systems have been routinely prevented by highly filtering the power system and antenna response, that most satellites have had no way to detect arcing, and that most power losses up to the present time have been ascribed to radiation damage. Results of new optical and radio-frequency radio frequency observations of satellite arcing are discussed, as well as laboratory measurements confirming the high arc rates and their consequences.