Session
Frank J. Redd Student Competition 2021
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
As the use of Langmuir probes on small satellites increases, so does the need to understand how spacecraft charging affects Langmuir Probe measurements. This paper explores the important relationship between probe and spacecraft surface area, and how it relates to the floating potential (or charge) on the spacecraft. Further, this paper discusses how a charged body’s interaction with the ionosphere can be modeled using custom circuit elements designed in SPICE. The SPICE models introduced are demonstrated with the SPORT spacecraft, a 6U mission that makes Langmuir probe measurements in concert with two electric field probes used to account for the floating potential of the spacecraft.
An Analytical Approach to Modeling Spacecraft Potentials in SPICE
Utah State University, Logan, UT
As the use of Langmuir probes on small satellites increases, so does the need to understand how spacecraft charging affects Langmuir Probe measurements. This paper explores the important relationship between probe and spacecraft surface area, and how it relates to the floating potential (or charge) on the spacecraft. Further, this paper discusses how a charged body’s interaction with the ionosphere can be modeled using custom circuit elements designed in SPICE. The SPICE models introduced are demonstrated with the SPORT spacecraft, a 6U mission that makes Langmuir probe measurements in concert with two electric field probes used to account for the floating potential of the spacecraft.
