Abstract
A short account is given of the effects on rocket potential of drawing excessive electron currents to Langmuir probes mounted on a rocket. A system is described whereby the rocket to plasma potential can be regulated by means of ejecting electrons into the plasma medium with an electron gun which is servo-controlled. The system was developed and tested in a laboratory plasma, simulating ionospheric conditions, and was consequently incorporated in a rocket payload P119H which reached an apogee of about 140 km. The results presented show the extent to which rocket potential can change as a consequence of the various currents drawn to the probes when no regulation is applied and also the high degree of regulation attained when the control system is brought into operation. Certain improvements, which can be made to the system in order to avoid gross contact potential difference effects, are suggested.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Boyd, R. L. F.: 1968, in Lochte-Holtgreven (ed.), Plasma Diagnostics, Chapt. 12, North Holland Pub. Co., Amsterdam.
Blanquart, P. and Ramond, J.: 1966, L’Echo des Recherches, No. 45. (1966)
De Barr, A. E.: 1962 Automatic ControlChapt. 2, Reinhold Pub. Co.
Goodall, C. V.: 1971, Planetary Space Sci. 19, 827.
Huang, F. T.: 1970, Ph.D. Thesis, Maryland University, U.S.A. (1970)
Laframboise, J. G.: 1966, Univ. of Toronto Inst. for Aerospace Stud. Report No. 100, Canada. Mott-Smith, H. M. and Langmuir, I.: 1926, Phys. Rev. 28, 727.
Polychronopulos, B.: 1970, M.Sc. Thesis, Birmingham University, U.K.
Sayers, J.: 1970 J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 32663.
Swift, J. D. and Schwar, M. J. R.: 1970, Electrical Probes for Plasma Diagnostics,Chapt. 1, Iliffe.
Trendelenburg, E. A., Fitton, B., Page, D. E., and Pedersen, A.: 1970 Eldo-Cecles / Esro-Cers Sci. Tech. Rev. 2 1.
Tyler, A. F.: 1972, Radio Electr. Eng. 42, 309.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1973 D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland
About this paper
Cite this paper
Polychronopulos, B., Goodall, C.V. (1973). A System for Measuring and Controlling the Surface Potential of Rockets Flown in the Ionosphere. In: Grard, R.J.L. (eds) Photon and Particle Interactions with Surfaces in Space. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 37. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-2647-5_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-2647-5_18
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-2649-9
Online ISBN: 978-94-010-2647-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive