• Title/Summary/Keyword: charged satellites

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Space Radiation Effect on Si Solar Cells (우주 방사능에 의한 실리콘 태양 전지의 특성 변화)

  • Lee, Jae-Jin;Kwak, Young-Sil;Hwang, Jung-A;Bong, Su-Chang;Cho, Kyung-Seok;Jeong, Seong-In;Kim, Kyung-Hee;Choi, Han-Woo;Han, Young-Hwan;Choi, Yong-Woon;Seong, Baek-Il
    • Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.435-444
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    • 2008
  • High energy charged particles are trapped by geomagnetic field in the region named Van Allen Belt. These particles can move to low altitude along magnetic field and threaten even low altitude spacecraft. Space Radiation can cause equipment failures and on occasions can even destroy operations of satellites in orbit. Sun sensors aboard Science and Technology Satellite (STSAT-l) was designed to detect sun light with silicon solar cells which performance was degraded during satellite operation. In this study, we try to identify which particle contribute to the solar cell degradation with ground based radiation facilities. We measured the short circuit current after bombarding electrons and protons on the solar cells same as STSAT-1 sun sensors. Also we estimated particle flux on the STSAT-l orbit with analyzing NOAA POES particle data. Our result clearly shows STSAT-l solar cell degradation was caused by energetic protons which energy is about 700keV to 1.5MeV. Our result can be applied to estimate solar cell conditions of other satellites.

RBSP (Radiation Belt Storm Probes) Mission, Space weather and Science Topics

  • Lee, Jae-Jin;Kim, Kyung-Chan;Hwang, Jung-A;Kim, Yeon-Han;Park, Young-Deuk
    • The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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    • v.37 no.1
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    • pp.89.2-89.2
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    • 2012
  • Radiation Belt, discovered by Van Allen in 1958, is a region energetic particles are trapped by the Earth's magnetic field. To measure charged particles and fields in the radiation belt, RBSP(Radiation Belt Storm Probes) mission will be launched in September 2012 by NASA. RBSP mission consists of two spacecraft having orbit from 600 km to 30,000 km and rotates the Earth twice a day. This mission is not designed just for scientific purpose but have operational function broadcasting real time data for space weather monitoring. As a program of KASI-NASA cooperation, KASI is constructing RBSP data receiving antenna that will be installed by April in Daejeon. With this antenna system, NASA can receive RBSP data for 24 hours and KASI also get space weather information to protect Korean GEO satellites. In this presentation, we will discuss how we use RBSP data for space weather forecasting. In addition, we will talk about science topics that can be achieved by RBSP mission. Especially we focus on the dusk-side electron precipitation that has been considered as a main mechanism of electron dropout events. We show the dusk-side precipitation is closely associated with radiation belt electron loss with NOAA-POES data, and why RBSP mission is important to understand radiation belt physics.

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A study on the radiation effect of silicon solar cells in a low Earth orbit satellite by using high energy electron beams (고에너지 전자빔을 이용하여 저궤도 인공위성의 실리콘 태양센서의 내방사선 특성 연구)

  • Chung, Sung-In;Lee, Jae-Jin;Lee, Heung-Ho
    • Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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    • v.45 no.3
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    • pp.1-5
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    • 2008
  • This paper analyzes on the radiation effect of silicon solar cells in a low Earth orbit satellite by using high energy electron beams. Generally, the satellite circling round in a low orbit go through Van Allen belt, in which electronic components are easily damaged and shortened by charged particles moving in a cycle between the South Pole and the North Pole. For example, Single Event Upset (SEU) by radiation could cause electronic devices on satellite to malfunction. From the ground experiment in which we used the high energy electron beam facility at Knrea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), we tried to explain sun sensor degradations on orbit could he caused by high energy electrons. While we focused on the solar cells used for light detectors, We convince our research also contributes to understand the radiation effect of solar cells generating electric powers on satellites.