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Plasma Electron Gun Payload (PLEGPAY)
12.05.08

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Experiment/Payload Overview

Brief Summary

Plasma Electron Gun Payload (PLEGPAY) will validate the plasma contactor as an active device on the International Space Station for the prevention/control of electrostatic charging phenomena on large space structures orbiting at low Earth orbit.

Principal Investigator

  • Giovanni Noci, Laben-Proel, Florence, Italy

    • Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

    Information Pending

    Payload Developer

    Information Pending

    Sponsoring Agency

    European Space Agency (ESA)

    Expeditions Assigned

    |16|17|18|19|20|

    Previous ISS Missions

    Information Pending

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    Experiment/Payload Description

    Research Summary

    • Plasma Electron Gun Payload (PLEGPAY) will validate the functionality and performances of the plasma contactor technology under actual ionospheric environmental conditions and through extensive in-flight operation.


    • PLEGPAY will examine the environmental modification induced by the plasma contactor operation, by plasma diagnostic tools (Langmuir Probe and Discharge Detector).

    Description

    The scientific objective of PLEGPAY experiment is the study of the spacecraft/space environment interactions in LEO, with reference to electrostatic charging/discharging phenomena. The spacecraft community is very interested to understand the mechanisms for electrostatic charge accumulation, which often produce uncontrollable discharge events, thereby adversely affecting the functioning of spacecraft electronic systems. Among the existing active methods to mitigate charging effects, the hollow cathode plasma contactor (an electric propulsion spin-off technology) has proved itself to be the most effective technology. A hollow cathode plasma contactor, as applied in PLEGPAY, and used to control the spacecraft charging in order to safeguard the spacecraft operation, could, in the near future, become a standard facility at disposal of the commercial and scientific satellites and space station/infrastructures.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Information Pending

    Earth Applications

    Information Pending

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    Information Pending

    Operational Protocols

    Information Pending

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    Results/More Information

    Information Pending

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    Related Web Sites
  • Columbus Mission - European Experiment Programme

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    Publications

    Results Publications

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      Related Publications

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        Images

        imagePLEGPAY hardware, image courtesy of ESA.
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        imageNASA Images s124e010226 (background) and s123e009654 (foreground): This image shows the location along with a close up view of the European Space Agency?s European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF) platform located externally on the Columbus module. EuTEF houses nine experiments including Plasma Electron Gun Payload (PLEGPAY).
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        Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office
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