The GGS spacecraft, solar arrays for space physics

Two Global Geospace Science (GGS) spacecraft, WIND and POLAR, support highly sensitive instruments for measurements in the plasma source and plasma storage regions of geospace. The increased sensitivity of the electric and magnetic field instruments on the GGS missions required NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Lockheed Martin Astro Space (LMAS) to explore new and innovative methods of providing an electrostatically clean, equipotential surface that would minimize interference with the surrounding plasma environment. This paper summarizes the qualification program, test results, flight build and on orbit performance of the GGS solar arrays.