HR: 0800h
AN: SM51A-0277    [Abstracts]
TI: Auroral Charging at Jupiter
AU: * Garrett, H B
EM: henr.b.garrett@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, MS 122-107 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91109, United States
AU: Evans, R W
EM: Robin.Evans@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Gibbel Corp., 2550 Honolulu Blvd., Montrose, CA 91020, United States
AU: Jun, I
EM: Insoo.Jun@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, MS 122-107 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91109, United States
AB: A well-known concern for polar orbiting spacecraft at the Earth is spacecraft charging due to the aurora. Studies of Jupiter reveal the presence of a variety of similar auroral phenomena. In particular, three regions have been identified—a narrow auroral zone at high latitudes, a complex and variable environment over the poles, and aurora-like features associated with the main jovian moons and their magnetic flux tubes. These auroral structures are, like their earthly counterparts, expected to be sources of charging. In combination with models of the jovian plasma environment, these ambient charging currents are then computed with the intention of providing realistic estimates of spacecraft potentials at Jupiter for the polar-orbiting Juno mission. Unlike previous missions to Jupiter, Juno will utilize large solar arrays. Juno's solar arrays may make it sensitive to surface charging if proper mitigation techniques are not implemented in the design. This presentation evaluates the possible effects of the jovian auroral regions on charging. Jovian aurora are a potential threat to Juno and similar missions, but, as will be discussed, an understanding of the environment and of proper mitigation techniques should limit their effects.
DE: 2704 Auroral phenomena (2407)
DE: 2716 Energetic particles: precipitating
DE: 2721 Field-aligned currents and current systems (2409)
DE: 7855 Spacecraft sheaths, wakes, charging
SC: SPA-Magnetospheric Physics [SM]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting