Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Dec 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011agufm.p42a..05c&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #P42A-05
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
[6245] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Meteors
Scientific paper
Hypervelocity impacts on spacecraft are known to cause mechanical damage, but their electrical effect on spacecraft systems are not well-characterized. We present a theory to explain plasma production and subsequent electric fields occurring when a meteoroid or piece of space debris strikes a spacecraft, ionizing itself and part of the spacecraft. This plasma, with a charge separation commensurate with different species mobilities, can produce a strong electromagnetic pulse (EMP), potentially causing catastrophic damage if the impact is relatively near an area with low shielding or an open umbilical. The plasma density, and hence plasma frequency, sweeps down as the plasma expands ballistically into the vacuum causing a chirp. Subsequent plasma oscillations can also emit significant power and may be responsible for many reported satellite anomalies. The presented theory discusses both a dust-free plasma expansion with coherent electron oscillation and a dusty plasma expansion with macroscopic charge separation. We show that significant RF can be emitted from frequencies ranging from VLF through S-band.
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