Space technology has
become an increasingly critical aspect of our
every day lives, our well being and the security
of our societies. Satellites are used for
monitoring our near-space environment, for doing
remote sensing of Earth or other planets, as well
as for studying fundamental processes in distant
astrophysical objects. In order to make optimal
use of space-enabled technology it is imperative
to develop a good understanding of the interaction
between space-based systems and their environment.
This is clearly required for the design of such
systems and in order to ensure their survivability
and proper operation in often extreme conditions.
It is also needed for the correct interpretation
of measurements and other information collected in
situ. The challenge of modelling the interaction
of spacecraft with their space plasma environment
is considerable and, despite many years of
progress, several fundamental questions remain.
This working group will carry a number of case
studies to elucidate questions identified as of
high priority, and with a direct impact on
research. Our objective is to advance knowledge
and understanding in targeted areas in ways that
would not be possible without the level of
collaboration considered here. Research activities
will concentrate on five basic and interdependent
aspects of satellite interaction with the space
environment. These are: i) charging, ii) sheath
effects, iii) particle emission from surfaces, iv)
transient responses and v) wake dynamics. These
will be studied using a combination of computer
models and, where possible, detailed measurement
results. Different plasma conditions will be
considered corresponding to possible space
environments of interest, including the
ionosphere, Earth magnetosphere and the
interplanetary solar wind. Wherever possible,
studies will also be conducted by considering
specific cases or missions of direct interest to
group members including for example, Solar Probe,
Solar Orbiter, Rosetta, Cluster or Swarm. The
specific applications that will be considered
include measurements of electric fields,
antenna-plasma coupling, particle distribution
measurements and the interpretation of Langmuir
probe measurements. By benchmarking our model
predictions against observations, and by comparing
model results with one another, we will provide an
assessment of their validity and limitations under
the different space plasma conditions of interest.
In the longer term, this will point to directions
for improving these models.
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