New ESD test set-up for spacecraft equipment

The ESD test method according to ECSS-E-ST-20-07C [1] has shown weaknesses in reproducibility and reliability. We have previously shown that test results can vary from one test laboratory and setup to another, [2] this entails developing an improved methodology and hardware to address the ECSS test shortcomings. In this paper, a new topology and a generator built using a pressurized high voltage relay, a compensation circuit and a bulk current injection (BCI) probe as a coupling device instead of the 20 cm wire described in the current ECSS standard are presented. The generator and the suggested test set-up have been evaluated in different configurations showing an improved reproducibility and a simpler testing procedure.