Spacecraft Surface Charging Prediction Using CIMI and SPIS Coupled Model

Focusing on space weather originated anomalies mainly on spacecraft electronics and structures, such problems are quite common issue encountered by telecommunication satellite operators. In this study, plasma environment inside the magnetosphere is modelled with Comprehensive Inner-Magnetosphere Ionosphere Model (CIMI) and the model outputs have been processed in order to drive the Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software (SPIS) for prediction of surface differential charging. Analyses were conducted on SPIS with different space environment and satellite configurations; different orbital locations regarding to satellite on-station configuration. Spacecraft charging potential estimations are obtained for a specific space weather event and surface charging on different configurations were analysed indicating the differential surface charging can be expected on 00:00, 06:00 and 18:00 MLT points. In conclusion, it is found that CIMI model can be potentially used for charging simulations.