Development of High Voltage Power Supply for Artificial Satellites

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High-voltage power supplies (HVPSs) are often used by instruments onboard scientific satellites, but those with low weight, hight performance, and high reliability have not been easily available. In Particular, it is of vital importance to prevent the HVPS from vacuum discharges.This research has aimed at establishing the know-hows of satellite-borne HVPSs. For that purpose we carried out various laboratory experiments. FurThermore, we closely followed inorbit performance of 8 kilovolt HVPSs used in the GIS (Gas Imaging Spectrometer) instrument onboard the cosmic X-ray setellite ASCA,launched in February 1993. We developd these HVPSs under collaboration with Meisei Electric Co.Ltd and Tamura Corporation Ltd.These HVPSs have been performing normally.From these result, we can list up following guidelines in fabricating the HVPSs.(1) The best way of preventing the HVPS from vacuum discharges is to utilize the high electric resistivity of the high vacuum itself.(2) Solid potting of the high voltage circuits should be avoided, but their conformal coating is effective.(3) For the protection against launch vibration, no foaming material should be used. Such materials would occasionally make sporadic outgas, leading to hazardous discharges.