Influence of Photoelectrons on Spacecraft Charging for Artificial Orbiting Spacecraft


Notice

This is an unedited manuscript accepted for publication and provided as an Article in Press for early access at the author’s request. The article will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and galley proof review before final publication. Please be aware that errors may be identified during production that could affect the content. All legal disclaimers of the journal apply.

Year : 2025 | Volume : 14 | Issue : 01 | Page : –
    By

    Rizwan H. Alad,

  • Vidhi Mistry,

  • Hetvi Makwana,

  • Keyurkumar Patel,

  • Ashish Pandya,

  1. Professors, Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Dharmsinh Desai University, Nadiad, Gujarat, India
  2. Student, Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Dharmsinh Desai University, Nadiad, Gujarat, India
  3. Student, Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Dharmsinh Desai University, Nadiad, Gujarat, India
  4. Professor, Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Dharmsinh Desai University, Nadiad, Gujarat, India
  5. Professor, Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Dharmsinh Desai University, Nadiad, Gujarat, India

Abstract

document.addEventListener(‘DOMContentLoaded’,function(){frmFrontForm.scrollToID(‘frm_container_abs_175667’);});Edit Abstract & Keyword

 For the purpose to evaluate the temporal body potential and capacitance of an artificial orbiting spacecraft, this research analyzes the impact of photoelectrons on spacecraft charging. A metallic rectangular cuboid and two coplanar metallic rectangular plates compose the spacecraft model. The Runge-Kutta method is used to calculate the body potential, and the Method of Moments (MoM) is used to calculate the capacitance. Depending on the spacecraft’s inclination angle, solar energy from the Sun is directly impacted on the area that receives sunlight. The study also explores how an excessive buildup of charge can cause operational challenges, such as electrical discharges, disruptions in communication, and potential harm to delicate electronic systems. This study explores how spacecraft accumulate charge in space and the role of photoelectrons in this process. It suggests improved methods for managing charges, including the use of specialized materials and protective coatings to minimize potential risks. The findings support the development of more robust spacecraft designed for extended missions. Depending on the spacecraft material’s photon efficiency, the incident solar radiation ejects photoelectrons from the spacecraft surface, increasing the spacecraft body’s positive charge. In addition to accounting for different wavelengths, the variation in body potential is established both with and without the photoelectric effect. It is discovered that the variance of body potential is significantly influenced by the photoelectric current. For different scenarios, the spacecraft’s body potential’s temporal behavior is examined.

Keywords: spacecraft charging; Method of Moments(MoM); Runge Kutta; photoelectric effect; body potential

[This article belongs to Research & Reviews : Journal of Space Science & Technology (rrjosst)]

How to cite this article:
Rizwan H. Alad, Vidhi Mistry, Hetvi Makwana, Keyurkumar Patel, Ashish Pandya. Influence of Photoelectrons on Spacecraft Charging for Artificial Orbiting Spacecraft. Research & Reviews : Journal of Space Science & Technology. 2025; 14(01):-.
How to cite this URL:
Rizwan H. Alad, Vidhi Mistry, Hetvi Makwana, Keyurkumar Patel, Ashish Pandya. Influence of Photoelectrons on Spacecraft Charging for Artificial Orbiting Spacecraft. Research & Reviews : Journal of Space Science & Technology. 2025; 14(01):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/rrjosst/article=2025/view=0


document.addEventListener(‘DOMContentLoaded’,function(){frmFrontForm.scrollToID(‘frm_container_ref_175667’);});Edit

References

  1. Nakagawa T, Ishii T, Tsuruda K, Hayakawa H, Mukai T. Net current density of photoelectrons emitted from the surface of the GEOTAIL spacecraft. Earth, planets and space. 2000 Apr;52:283-92.
  2. Kawasaki K, Inoue S, Ewang E, Toyoda K, Cho M. Measurement of electron emission yield by electrons and photons for space aged material. InProceedings of the 14th Spacecraft Charging Technology Conference, ESA/ESTEC Noordwijk, Netherlands 2016 (pp. 1-7).
  3. Koons HC. Summary of environmentally induced electrical discharges on the P78-2 (SCATHA) satellite. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. 1983 Sep;20(5):425-31.
  4. Matéo-Vélez JC, Theillaumas B, Sévoz M, Andersson B, Nilsson T, Sarrailh P, Thiébault B, Jeanty-Ruard B, Rodgers D, Balcon N, Payan D. Simulation and analysis of spacecraft charging using SPIS and NASCAP/GEO. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science. 2015 Jul 14;43(9):2808-16.
  5. Mandell MJ, Davis VA, Cooke DL, Wheelock AT, Roth CJ. Nascap-2k spacecraft charging code overview. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science. 2006 Oct 16;34(5):2084-93.
  6. Muranaka T, Hosoda S, Kim JH, Hatta S, Ikeda K, Hamanaga T, Cho M, Usui H, Ueda HO, Koga K, Goka T. Development of multi-utility spacecraft charging analysis tool (MUSCAT). IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science. 2008 Oct 28;36(5):2336-49.
  7. Garrett HB, Whittlesey AC. Spacecraft charging, an update. IEEE transactions on plasma science. 2000 Dec;28(6):2017-28.
  8. Garrett HB, Whittlesey AC. Guide to mitigating spacecraft charging effects. John Wiley & Sons; 2012 May 22.
  9. Hastings D, Garrett H. Spacecraft-environment interactions. Spacecraft-Environment Interactions. 2004 Aug.
  10. Griseri V. Polyimide used in space applications. Polyimide for Electronic and Electrical Engineering Applications. 2020 Sep 9:1-9.
  11. Rich F, Reasoner DL, Burke WJ. Plasma sheet at lunar distance: Characteristics and interactions with the lunar surface. Journal of Geophysical Research. 1973 Dec 1;78(34):8097-112.
  12. Manka RH. Plasma and potential at the lunar surface. InPhoton and Particle Interactions with Surfaces in Space: Proceedings of the 6th Eslab Symposium, Held at Noordwijk, the Netherlands, 26–29 September, 1972 1973 Nov 30 (pp. 347-361). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands.
  13. Freeman JW, Ibrahim M. Lunar electric fields, surface potential and associated plasma sheaths. InLunar Science Institute, Conference on Interactions of the Interplanetary Plasma with the Modern and Ancient Moon, Lake Geneva, Wis., Sept. 30-Oct. 4, 1974. The Moon, vol. 14, Sept. 1975, p. 103-114. 1975 Sep (Vol. 14, pp. 103-114).
  14. Halekas JS, Bale SD, Mitchell DL, Lin RP. Electrons and magnetic fields in the lunar plasma wake. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. 2005 Jul;110(A7).
  15. Halekas JS, Lin RP, Mitchell DL. Large negative lunar surface potentials in sunlight and shadow. Geophysical research letters. 2005 May;32(9).
  16. Stubbs TJ, Halekas JS, Farrell WM, Vondrak RR. Lunar surface charging: A global perspective using Lunar Prospector data. Dust in planetary systems. 2007 Jan;643:181-4.
  17. Halekas JS, Delory GT, Brain DA, Lin RP, Fillingim MO, Lee CO, Mewaldt RA, Stubbs TJ, Farrell WM, Hudson MK. Extreme lunar surface charging during solar energetic particle events. Geophysical research letters. 2007 Jan;34(2).
  18. Halekas JS, Delory GT, Lin RP, Stubbs TJ, Farrell WM. Lunar surface charging during solar energetic particle events: Measurement and prediction. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. 2009 May;114(A5).
  19. Farrell WM, Halekas JS, Killen RM, Delory GT, Gross N, Bleacher LV, Krauss‐Varben D, Travnicek P, Hurley D, Stubbs TJ, Zimmerman MI. Solar‐Storm/Lunar Atmosphere Model (SSLAM): An overview of the effort and description of the driving storm environment. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. 2012 Oct;117(E10).
  20. Stubbs TJ, Farrell WM, Halekas JS, Burchill JK, Collier MR, Zimmerman MI, Vondrak RR, Delory GT, Pfaff RF. Dependence of lunar surface charging on solar wind plasma conditions and solar irradiation. Planetary and Space Science. 2014 Jan 1;90:10-27.
  21. Breneman AW, Wygant JR, Tian S, Cattell CA, Thaller SA, Goetz K, Tyler E, Colpitts C, Dai L, Kersten K, Bonnell JW. The Van Allen Probes electric field and waves instrument: Science results, measurements, and access to data. Space science reviews. 2022 Dec;218(8):69.
  22. Fennell JF, Roeder JL, Berg GA, Elsen RK. HEO satellite frame and differential charging and SCATHA low-level frame charging. IEEE transactions on plasma science. 2008 Oct 31;36(5):2271-9.
  23. Leach RD. Failures and anomalies attributed to spacecraft charging. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Marshall Space Flight Center; 1995.
  24. Huang Z, Wang J. Modeling lunar surface charging under space weather conditions derived from the Artemis and omni data. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science. 2023 Aug 18;51(9):2515-21.
  25. Alad RH, Shah H, Chakrabarty SB, Shah D. Effect of solar illumination on ESD for structure used in spacecraft. Progress In Electromagnetics Research M. 2017;55:25-36..
  26. Gibson W. C., ‘The method of moments in elecromagnetics’, Chapman & Hall/CRC, Taylor & Francis Group, New-York, Nov. 2007, pp. 33–48, 255–269.
  27. Das BN, Chakrabarty SB. Capacitance and charge distribution of two cylindrical conductors of finite length. IEE Proceedings-Science, Measurement and Technology. 1997 Nov 4;144(6):280-6.
  28. Bai EW, Lonngren KE. On the capacitance of a cube. Computers & Electrical Engineering. 2002 Jul 1;28(4):317-21.
  29. Cañas-Peñuelas CS, Catalan-Izquierdo S, Bueno-Barrachina JM, Cavallé-Sesé F. Unit cube capacitance calculation by means of finite element analysis. InInternational Conference on Renewable Energies and Power Quality, Valencia (Spain), 15th to 17th April 2009 Apr.
  30. Harrington RF. Field computation by moment methods. Wiley-IEEE Press; 1993 Apr 1.
  31. Alad RH, Chakrabarty SB. Capacitance and surface charge distribution computations for a satellite modeled as a rectangular cuboid and two plates. Journal of Electrostatics. 2013 Dec 1;71(6):1005-10.
  32. Das BN, Chakrabarty SB. Evaluation of capacitance and charge distribution of cylinder of finite length with top and bottom cover plates.
  33. ADAMS, A. T. 1972. ‘Electromagnetics for engineers’, New York: Ronald Press, pp 65–126, 166–220.
  34. Kim CY. A numerical solution for the round disk capacitor by using annular patch subdomains. Progress In Electromagnetics Research B. 2008;8:179-94.
Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 14
Issue 01
Received 12/02/2025
Accepted 18/02/2025
Published 25/02/2025
Publication Time 13 Days
222

async function fetchCitationCount(doi) {
let apiUrl = `https://api.crossref.org/works/${doi}`;
try {
let response = await fetch(apiUrl);
let data = await response.json();
let citationCount = data.message[“is-referenced-by-count”];
document.getElementById(“citation-count”).innerText = `Citations: ${citationCount}`;
} catch (error) {
console.error(“Error fetching citation count:”, error);
document.getElementById(“citation-count”).innerText = “Citations: Data unavailable”;
}
}
fetchCitationCount(“10.37591/RRJoSST.v14i01.0”);

Loading citations…