A solar cycle of spacecraft anomalies due to internal charging

TLDR

It is important to appreciate how the morphology of internal charging of spacecraft systems, due to penetrating electrons, differs from that of the more common surface charging, due to electrons with lower energy. Concurrent measurements of sunspot number, solar wind speed and 2‑day >2 MeV electron fluence are presented to highlight pertinent space weather relationships and the importance of understanding the complex particle interaction processes involved. A specific and recurrent anomaly on a geostationary communication satellite has been tracked for ten years so that solar cycle and seasonal dependencies can be clearly established. Keywords: magnetospheric physics, space plasma physics, spacecraft sheaths, wakes, and charging.

Abstract

Abstract. It is important to appreciate how the morphology of internal charging of spacecraft systems, due to penetrating electrons, differs from that of the more common surface charging, due to electrons with lower energy. A specific and recurrent anomaly on a geostationary communication satellite has been tracked for ten years so that solar cycle and seasonal dependencies can be clearly established. Concurrent measurements of sunspot number, solar wind speed and 2-day >2 MeV electron fluence are presented to highlight pertinent space weather relationships, and the importance of understanding the complex particle interaction processes involved.Key words. Magnetospheric physics (energetic particles; trapped; solar wind – magnetosphere interactions) – space plasma physics (spacecraft sheaths, wakes, charging)