Spacecraft charge naturally in orbit due to the plasma environment and the electromagnetic
radiation from the sun. By emitting an electron beam, a servicer spacecraft can control its …

The phenomena of electrostatic discharge are ubiquitous, if leave alone, may lead to fire,
explosive and even the loss of energy systems. So it is imperative to summarize the …

The electrostatic tractor has been proposed to touchlessly remove space debris from
geosynchronous orbit by taking advantage of intercraft Coulomb forces. A controlled …

Novel active sensing methods have been recently proposed to measure the electrostatic
potential of noncooperative objects in geosynchronous equatorial orbit and deep space …

Ultraviolet (UV) lasers are proposed as a replacement for low-energy electron beams in
touchless spacecraft potential sensing. Theoretical considerations support their use as …

Touchless potential sensing of neighboring spacecraft using photoemissions and secondary
electron emissions has been investigated for geosynchronous (GEO) applications. As more …

Spacecraft charge in orbit due to naturally occurring electric currents from the ambient
plasma emitted from the surface, as well as artificial currents produced by devices such as …

The secondary electron method has been recently proposed to touchlessly sense the
electrostatic potential of non-cooperative objects in geosynchronous equatorial orbits and …

Numerous missions are being proposed which involve multiple spacecraft operating in close
proximity in harsh charging environments. In such missions, the ability to sense the …

Touchless potential sensing is a technique which can provide valuable insight into
spacecraft-environment interactions, enable missions which leverage electrostatic forces …