Electrostatic discharge ground test of a polar orbit satellite solar panel

The Advanced Land Observing Satellite that was launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in 2006 carries a large solar-array paddle of 22 x 3 m in polar orbit. The wake side of the solar paddle can be charged to a negative value exceeding -1000 V. Numerical simulations and laboratory experiments are carried out to investigate charging and arcing phenomena on the backside of the solar paddle that has exposed bypass diode boards and silver-Teflon thermal film. Possibility of secondary are and surge voltage between hot and return ends of power circuit has been investigated. The authors irradiate solar-panel coupons with an electron beam to simulate charging situation near the North Pole. Surface flashover is observed once the insulator potential exceeds -7000 V. The authors have also tested charging situation near the South Pole where carbon fiber-reinforced plastics surface facing dense ionospheric plasma may arc easily once a satellite potential drops to -80 or -90 V. The solar-paddle design has been modified to increase the safety margin against arcing, and tests have been carried out to identify the strength limit under extremely harsh test environment.