Comparison of On-Orbit and Ground Based Hollow Cathode Operation
Comparison of On-Orbit and Ground Based Hollow Cathode Operation
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在轨与地面空心阴极运行的比较
DOI：
10.2514/6.2002-4098
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发表时间：
2002
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
C. Carpenter
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
C. Carpenter
等离子体接触器单元（PCU）是由波音公司Rocketdyne分部开发的用于控制国际空间站（ISS）充电的装置。每个PCU包含一个空心阴极组件（HCA），它发射电荷控制电子。hca是在美国宇航局格伦研究中心（GRC）设计和制造的。GRC的HCA发展计划包括制造工程、鉴定和飞行模型HCA，以及磨损试验和鉴定试验。GRC目前正在跟踪飞行hca的在轨数据。这些数据将与地面HCA试验验证的操作参数进行比较。飞行hca继续完美地运行。一号机组在轨运行时间累计超过3650小时，二号机组在轨运行时间累计超过5550小时。国际空间站（ISS）的高压太阳能电池阵列输出电压为140伏至160伏。如果不使用充电控制装置，国际空间站的电气配置和等离子体电流平衡可能会导致空间站漂浮在比周围空间等离子体低120 V的电压下。如果存在较大的负漂浮电位，国际空间站可以与周围空间等离子体相互作用。这些相互作用可能包括电弧和溅射侵蚀。
ABSTRACT The Plasma Contactor Unit (PCU) was developed by the Rocketdyne division of Boeing to control charging of the International Space Station (ISS). Each PCU contains a Hollow Cathode Assembly (HCA), which emits the charge control electrons. The HCAs were designed and fabricated at NASA’s Glenn Research Center (GRC). GRC’s HCA development program included manufacture of engineering, qualification, and flight model HCAs as well as wear tests and qualification tests. GRC is currently tracking the on-orbit data for the flight HCAs. This data will be discussed with comparison to operating parameters verified by ground based HCA tests. The flight HCAs continue to operate flawlessly. The first unit has accumulated more than 3650 hours of on-orbit operation and the second unit has accumulated over 5550 hours. INTRODUCTION The International Space Station (ISS) high voltage solar arrays deliver output voltages of 140 V to 160 V. The electrical configuration of the ISS and the plasma current balance could cause the station to float at voltages predicted to be as much as 120 V below the ambient space plasma if no charge control device is used. If large negative floating potentials are present, the ISS could interact with ambient space plasma. These interactions could include arcing and sputter erosion.