Electromagnetic pulses generated by meteoroid impacts on spacecraft

Abstract

[1] Meteoroid impacts on spacecraft are known to cause mechanical damage, but their electrical effect on spacecraft systems are not well characterized. Several reported spacecraft anomalies are suggestive of an electrical failure associated with meteoroid impact. We present a theory to explain plasma production and subsequent electric fields occurring when a meteoroid strikes a spacecraft, ionizing itself and part of the spacecraft. This plasma, with a charge separation commensurate with different specie mobilities, can produce a strong electromagnetic pulse (EMP) at broad frequency spectra, potentially causing catastrophic damage if the impact is relatively near an area with low shielding or an open umbilical. Anomalies such as gyrostability loss can be caused by an EMP without any detectable momentum transfer due to small (<1 mg) particle mass. 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.Citation: Close, S., P. Colestock, L. Cox, M. Kelley, and N. Lee (2010), Electromagnetic pulses generated by meteoroid impacts on spacecraft,

Characteristic temperatures of hypervelocity dust impact plasmas

“…Such signals have a distinct impulsive character, which is easily distinguished from plasma waves, noise, or other signals. Signals may also be generated by electromagnetic means [e.g., Close et al ., , ] or electrostatically by image charge [ Collette et al ., ]. In particular, signals originating in the Solar TErrestrial RElations (STEREO) spacecraft WAVES plasma instrument have been a topic of intense recent interest [ Meyer‐Vernet et al ., ; St Cyr et al ., ; Zaslavsky et al ., ; Zaslavsky , ; Malaspina et al ., ] in part because of the observation of nanometer‐sized dust accelerated to solar wind speeds [e.g., Le Chat et al ., ].…”

Detection of hypervelocity impact radio frequency pulses through prior constrained source separation

“…Ground‐based tests were conducted in dust accelerator facilities to observe the impact phenomena [ Lee et al , ]. Initial experimental results and theoretical models indicated the existence of electromagnetic signals associated with the impact event [ Close et al , , ]. These signals are wideband low amplitude signals in the microwave spectrum, which are easily obscured by electromagnetic interference.…”

Comment on “Electromagnetic pulses generated by meteoroid impacts on spacecraft” by S. Close, P. Colestock, L. Cox, M. Kelley, and N. Lee

“…In the article by Close et al . [, hereinafter CCCKL], the authors present a theory of strong electromagnetic pulse (EMP) generation when a meteoroid strikes a spacecraft. Electromagnetic radiation from plasma generated by micrometeoroid and dust impacts have been reported on several spacecraft, starting with Aubier, et al .…”