Differential charging control on solar arrays for geosynchronous spacecraft

At geosynchronous altitudes, electrostatic discharges on solar arrays are a suspected cause of operational problems on spacecraft. An environmentally stable, conductive solar-cell coating eliminates discharges without introducing the significant power loss associated with previous conductive coatings. The coating has two layers: an inner conducting layer with significantly reduced thickness (to reduce power absorption), and an outer MgF/sub 2/ antireflective layer that protects the conducting layer against environmental degradation.<
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