Innovative insulation techniques examined in the space power experiments aboard rockets program

Space Power Experiments Aboard Rockets (SPEAR) is an SDIO funded program managed by the Defense Nuclear Agency to produce design guidelines for future space power systems and components. SPEAR I and SPEAR II are rocket borne space experiments designed to measure the ionospheric plasma interactions with exposed highly biased conductors. Data are then examined to determine the feasibility of using the low earth orbit (LEO) environment itself as electrical insulation. Laboratory experiments, theoretical development, large scale space chamber tests, and rocket borne experiments are all integrated into efforts to fully examine numerous issues such as electrical breakdown, current drain, outgassing, voltage conditioning, and charge collection. Results of the SPEAR I project are included as well as the current research on SPEAR II with techniques to use 'space insulation'; vacuum insulation in low density plasma environments.