Potentials of surfaces in space

Abstract

In the last decade, large electrostatic potentials of the order of tens of kV have been measured on spacecraft in the Earth's magnetosphere. Observations in space have led to the inference of large potentials on natural objects in the Solar System. The result for spacecraft can be material damage and operational interference caused by electrostatic discharges. Natural objects such as dust grains can be disrupted, and their motion influenced by electromagnetic forces.