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Plasma interaction experiment 2 (pix 2): laboratory and flight results
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Grier, N. T. |
| Copyright Year | 1985 |
| Description | The Plasma Interaction Experiments 1 and 2 (PIX 1 and 2) were designed as first steps toward understanding interactions between high-voltage solar arrays and the surrounding plasma. The PIX 2 consisted of an approximately 2000-sq cm array divided into four equal segments. Each of the segments could be biased independently and the current measured separately. In addition to the solar array segments, PIX 2 had a hot-wire-filament electron emitter and a spherical Langmuir probe. The emitter was operated when the array segments were biased positively bove 125 V. Thermal electrons from the emitter aided in balancing the electron currents collected by the array. Laboratory and flight results of PIX 2 are presented. At high positive voltages on the solar array segments, the flight currents were approximately an order of magnitude larger than the ground test currents. This is attributed to the tank walls in the laboratory interfering with the electron currents to the array segments. From previous tests it is known that the tank walls limit the electron currents at high voltages. This was the first verification of the extent of the laboratory tank effect on the plasma coupling current. |
| File Size | 973057 |
| Page Count | 15 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19850014184 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t9b61fv2c |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 1985-03-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Plasma Physics Flight Tests Ground Tests Solar Arrays Plasma Diagnostics Spacecraft Charging Plasma Interaction Experiment High Voltages Plasma Interactions Electric Current Space Plasmas Electrostatic Probes Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
