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2006 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Development of surface charging of Geostationary satellites

Research Project

Project/Area Number 16360426
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Aerospace engineering
Research InstitutionKyushu Institute of Technology

Principal Investigator

CHO Mengu  Kyushu Institute of Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Professor, 工学部, 教授 (60243333)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) OTSUKA Shinya  Kyushu Institute of Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Associate Professor, 工学部, 助教授 (60315158)
TOYODA Kazuhiro  Laboratory of Spacecraft Environment Interaction Engineering, Associate Professor, 宇宙環境技術研究センター, 助教授 (10361411)
KUNINAKA Hitoshi  JAXA, Institute of Space and Astronautical Sciences, Professor, 宇宙科学研究本部, 教授 (60234465)
Project Period (FY) 2004 – 2006
KeywordsSatellite / Solar Cell / Discharge / Charging / Plasma / Field Emission
Research Abstract

Since 1990s, satellite anomalies due to surface charging have increased as bus voltage of many geostationary telecommunication satellites increased to 100V. The surface charging of GEO satellites was once solved in 1980s. The increase of the satellite bus voltage, however, produced new problems. The purpose of this research is to develop affordable mitigation methods of surface charging that can be applicable to a large GEO commercial satellite.
In this research we produced prototypes for the following two methods and tested their effectives in laboratory experiments;
(1) Electron emitter that emits electrons automatically as the satellite potential drops to a negative value and prevent charging of a satellite body.
(2) Lightning rod that discharges itself with much smaller voltage before discharges occur on solar array.
The electron emitter that had triple junction made of carbon conductive adhesive and polymer film exposed to space was effective. Electrons were emitted from the edge of the carbon conductive adhesive and stable emission of nearly 1 hour was observed. If we put 100 pieces of several cm square, we can prevent charging of a large GEO satellite.
The lightning rod that was dummy solar cell with its edge roughened discharged more easily than conventional solar cell by a factor of more than 100. By putting these dummy cells on solar panel, we can reduce the probability on solar cells to less than 1%.
The two mitigation methods developed in this research are capable of complete passive operation. In the near future, we will seek a flight opportunity to demonstrate their effectiveness in space.

  • Research Products

    (1 results)

All 2006

All Patent(Industrial Property Rights) (1 results)

  • [Patent(Industrial Property Rights)] 放電対策装置2006

    • Inventor(s)
      趙, 三丸, 細田, 藤田, 久田
    • Industrial Property Rights Holder
      九州工業大学
    • Industrial Property Number
      特願2006-156782
    • Filing Date
      2006-06-06
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より

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Published: 2008-05-27  

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