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Ann. Geophys., 20, 953-956, 2002
www.ann-geophys.net/20/953/2002/
© European Geosciences Union 2002
A solar cycle of spacecraft anomalies due to internal charging
G. L. Wrenn, D. J. Rodgers, and K. A. Ryden
QinetiQ, A8, Cody Technology Park, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 0LX, UK
Correspondence to: G. L. Wrenn
(gordonwrenn@tiscali.co.uk)
Abstract. It is important to
appreciate how the morphology of internal charging of spacecraft systems, due
to penetrating electrons, differs from that of the more common surface
charging, due to electrons with lower energy. A specific and recurrent anomaly
on a geostationary communication satellite has been tracked for ten years so
that solar cycle and seasonal dependencies can be clearly established.
Concurrent measurements of sunspot number, solar wind speed and 2-day >2 MeV
electron fluence are presented to highlight pertinent space weather
relationships, and the importance of understanding the complex particle
interaction processes involved.
Key words. Magnetospheric physics
(energetic particles; trapped; solar wind – magnetosphere interactions) –
space plasma physics (spacecraft sheaths, wakes, charging)
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