Discharge of Spacecraft Solar Panels by Hypervelocity Impact

Shirou KAWAKITA; Go SEGAMI; Kumi NITTA; Hiroaki KUSAWAKE; Masato TAKAHASHI; Haruhisa MATSUMOTO; Sunao HASEGAWA

doi:10.2322/tstj.7.Tr_2_53

r-2) Space Environment and Debris

Discharge of Spacecraft Solar Panels by Hypervelocity Impact

Shirou KAWAKITA, Go SEGAMI, Kumi NITTA, Hiroaki KUSAWAKE, Masato TAKAHASHI, Haruhisa MATSUMOTO, Sunao HASEGAWA

Author information

Keywords: Solar Panel, Hypervelocity Impact, Orbital Debris, Degradation

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2009 Volume 7 Issue ists26 Pages Tr_2_53-Tr_2_56

DOI https://doi.org/10.2322/tstj.7.Tr_2_53

Details

Abstract

Small particles of less than 0.5 mm diameter collide with spacecraft solar panels, which work as an electrical power supply. Sustained arc discharging does not occur during such impacts, although trigger discharges are generated during several hundreds of milliseconds. The electrical performance of the solar panels is degraded slightly, but not enough to affect satellite systems.

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