Electrical conductivity and discharge propagation in spacecraft thermal control dielectrics

Abstract

The electrostatic potentials and fields in thermal control dielectrics attained by various portions of spacecraft bathed in space radiation and solar UV are thought to determine whether electrical discharges are possible, and the precharge enhancement of system generated electromagnetic pulse (SGEMP). The conditions required to initiate a discharge and the characteristics of those discharges serve to validate existing models or provide direction for future models. The conductivity of spacecraft materials in space-like conditions is an important parameter which determines the fields.