等离子体源型航天器主动电位控制方法

Active Potential Control Method for Spacecraft with Plasma Source

航天器与空间等离子体、高能粒子、地磁场等相互作用,会引起充放电效应,严重影响其空间任务。通过等离子体源发射人为等离子体可有效控制航天器表面电位,保障航天器运行安全,且较其他电位控制方法更灵活、高效,但国内对此研究相对基础薄弱。为此,基于航天器电流平衡方程进行航天器带电理论分析,并结合球对称模型对等离子体源电位控制理论进行阐述;进一步通过SPIS(spacecraft plasma interaction system)仿真平台模拟分析空间等离子体和人为等离子体对航天器电位的影响。研究表明,在GEO轨道空间等离子体的作用下,航天器不同材料表面存在不等量带电,且电位可达−14000 V;等离子体源工作可高效地将航天器控制在−10 V以内,控制器适合安装于卫星东侧面,其净发射电流直接影响着控制效果;在上述基础上,开展了地面模拟试验,结果表明:利用等离子体源控制器可将−6000~−5000 V的航天器模拟件在数秒内控制至0 V左右,等离子体源电位控制技术对航天器表面高电位及不等量带电均有良好的控制效果,以上研究成果将为其空间工程化应用提供支撑。

The interaction of spacecraft with space plasma,high-energy particles,and geomagnetic field can cause charge-discharge effect,which will seriously affect the space missions.Emitting artificial plasma through plasma source can effectively control the potential to ensure the safety of spacecraft operation,which is more flexible and efficient than other potential control methods;however,the research literature from domestic researchers is rarely available.Therefore,a theoretical analysis of spacecraft charging based on the spacecraft current balance equation and a spherically symmetric model of the plasma source potential control theory are presented.Furthermore,the effects of space plasma and human-artistic plasma on spacecraft potential were simulated and analyzed by the SPIS(spacecraft plasma interaction system)simulation platform.It is shown that,under the action of space plasma in GEO orbit,unequal charges exist on different material surfaces of spacecraft,and the potential can reach−14000 V.The plasma source work can efficiently control the spacecraft within−10 V.Based on the above study,ground simulation experiments were carried out.The results show that the−6000~−5000 V surface voltage of the spacecraft simulator can be controlled to 0 V within seconds by using the plasma source controller,the controller is suitable for installation on the east side of the satellite,and its net emission current directly affects the control effect.The technology has good control effect on both high potential and unequal charge on spacecraft surface within seconds,and the above research results will provide support for the space engineering application.