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JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 110, A12304, doi:10.1029/2005JA011100, 2005

Solid and grid sphere current collection in view of the tethered satellite system TSS 1 and TSS 1R mission results

G. V. Khazanov

National Space Science and Technology Center, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama, USA


E. Krivorutsky

National Space Science and Technology Center, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama, USA


R. B. Sheldon

National Space Science and Technology Center, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama, USA


Abstract

Passive end body plasma contactors have been operationally validated in space and have been shown to provide a simple, effective, and robust means of current collection at the positive terminal of an electrodynamic tether system. A grid sphere has been suggested as a possible end body since it potentially has distinct advantages compared to a solid sphere, including a lower neutral dynamic drag and a higher current-to-mass ratio. This paper estimates the maximum current collected by a grid sphere, taking into account its orbital motion and ion production inside the grid sphere. We first review the data from the tethered satellite system (TSS 1) and the TSS 1R flights, formulate a model for current collection by a solid sphere, and suggest how to incorporate it into the grid sphere current collection estimate. Then we calculate the potential distribution inside the grid sphere and the potential distribution outside the solid sphere for the same system parameters. Finally, we estimate the maximum current collected by a grid sphere depending on its transparency.

Received 23 February 2005; accepted 14 September 2005; published 13 December 2005.

Keywords: passive plasma contactors; electrodynamic tethers.

Index Terms: 2403 Ionosphere: Active experiments; 2494 Ionosphere: Instruments and techniques; 2499 Ionosphere: General or miscellaneous.


Full Article (Nonsubscribers may purchase for $9.00, Includes print PDF, file size: 697169 bytes)

Citation: Khazanov, G. V., E. Krivorutsky, and R. B. Sheldon (2005), Solid and grid sphere current collection in view of the tethered satellite system TSS 1 and TSS 1R mission results, J. Geophys. Res., 110, A12304, doi:10.1029/2005JA011100.