Closing the Gap-I: Analytical Methods to Predict the Electrical Effects of Spacecraft Discharges

Results of a cross-industry survey on the maturity of spacecraft charging technology were recently published. The consensus opinion is that the technology for predicting when and how satellites discharge and how those discharges interact with satellite electronics is lacking and is the highest priority gap that industry needs to be addressed. This article reviews analysis models that illustrate the most significant features of the discharge process and its effects on nearby wiring and terminal circuits that have to be addressed in analytical or numerical modeling. Unfortunately, significant gaps still remain in our ability to model all of the effects of discharges. Recommendations for future article to close those gaps are given. In the meantime, defining the effects of discharges requires testing. Test methods intended to close that gap are reviewed in a companion paper.