Speaker
Dr
Jean-Charles MATEO-VELEZ
(ONERA)
Description
Activity: GSP
Contractor(s): ONERA
Technical Officer: David Rodgers
Summary:
Active electron guns or plasma emitters have been used to control spacecraft potential. The main aim of this GSP activity study was to examine whether a purely passive electron emitter could be used to control hazardous levels of spacecraft charging.
The capabilities of existing low-power active emitters and passive devices were investigated and the theoretical and practical advances in emitter technology were studied. A conceptual design for a passive charge control system was developed and then validated and optimised using simulations of the SPIS code.
The final design includes a number of novel features for which a patent application has been submitted.
Primary author
Dr
Jean-Charles Mateo-Velez
(ONERA)
