Spacecraft charging is a physical event that happens when spacecraft gather electrical charge while working in space. This occurs because of how spacecraft interact with the plasma around them, solar radiation, and cosmic rays.

Mechanisms

Spacecraft charging occurs through different processes based on their orbit. Geosynchronous orbits have serious charging during geomagnetic storms, while low Earth orbits experience charging in polar regions and during night passages.

Incidents

Spacecraft charging can cause problems, such as the 2010 failure of the Galaxy 15 communications satellite. This satellite moved without control for eight months after a charging event caused issues with its command systems. Another example is the complete loss of the ADEOS II satellite in 2003.

Mitigation

Several spacecraft were launched to study the causes and effects of charging. SCATHA [ de ] (Spacecraft Charging AT High Altitudes) was launched by the United States Air Force in 1979. It helped scientists and engineers learn more about space. The spacecraft experienced electrical discharges and measured how the space environment affected the satellite and its surfaces. Other satellites were built by the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Additional examples include the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES).

To reduce the risks of charging, several methods were created. Modern spacecraft design now uses detailed planning to avoid charging problems during missions.