극궤도 플라즈마 환경에서 위성 충전 특성에 대한 연구

초록

Charges are often accumulated on the spacecraft surface due to interactions with the space plasma environment, and it is referred to as spacecraft charging. A high-level charge on the satellite surface easily causes an electrostatic discharge (ESD) on the external or internal surfaces of the satellite, which leads to temporary malfunctions or long-term damage in the satellite components. Spacecraft charging becomes severe under worst space weather conditions caused by severe geomagnetic storms, making it a critical factor that must be considered during the design phase to ensure the satellite’s reliability and stability. In this study, spacecraft charging on a nanosatellite was numerically examined under worst-case plasma conditions in the polar orbit. Both nighttime and daytime scenarios were considered, and the surface potential and voltage difference were calculated to identify regions susceptible to ESD. The potential of the satellite varies locally depending on the surface materials, and the presence of sunlight significantly affects the possible discharge area. The charge distribution around the spacecraft was also calculated to observe the characteristics of the surrounding plasma environment. This research is expected to provide valuable insights into identifying potential ESD issues and assessing the risk of electrical damage caused by spacecraft charging.

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