Satellite charge monitor

A charge monitor for satellites, comprising:

• a sensor array including at least one sensor unit with the sensor array being attachable to a satellite;
• said at least one sensor unit including
• a) an electrically conducting housing defining a compartment containing a dielectric slab therein, said dielectric slab having a selected thickness, the electrically conductive housing being attachable to a satellite;
• b) an electrically conducting electrode embedded in said dielectric slab a pre-selected distance below a top surface of the dielectric slab, said housing being mountable on a satellite with said top surface of said dielectric slab facing outwardly into space away from said satellite whereby charged particles emitted from sources external to the satellite penetrate said dielectric slab resulting in charge accumulation in the electrically conducting electrode to produce a floating DC voltage, and
• c) detection means for sensing the floating DC voltage developed on the electrically conducting electrode in said dielectric slab, due to the charge accumulation, and converting the floating DC voltage into an AC voltage representative of a charge buildup on said electrically conducting electrode.

A satellite, comprising;

• a) a satellite housing containing a power supply and a satellite payload including communication means for communicating with a satellite control center;
• b) a charge monitor including
• an electrically conducting housing including at least two compartments with said at least two compartments each including a dielectric slab contained therein, each dielectric slab having a selected thickness, an electrically conducting electrode embedded in each dielectric slab a pre-selected distance below a top surface of the dielectric slab, said housing being mounted on said satellite housing with said top surface of said dielectric slab facing outwardly into space away from said satellite whereby charged particles emitted from sources external to the satellite penetrate said dielectric slab resulting in charge accumulation in each electrically conducting electrode producing a floating DC voltage on each electrically conducting electrode, each electrically conducting electrode being electrically isolated from all other electrically conducting electrodes in said electrically conducting housing;
• and
• detection means for sensing of the floating DC voltage developed on the electrically conducting electrode embedded in each dielectric slab, due to the charge accumulation, and converting the floating DC voltage into an AC voltage representative of a charge buildup on each electrically conducting electrode,
• said charge monitor being connected to said communication means for communicating charge build-up data to the satellite control center.

A satellite, comprising;

• a satellite housing containing a power supply, satellite payload including communication means for communicating with a satellite control center;
• and
• a charge monitor including
• a sensor array including at least one sensor unit with the sensor array being attached to the satellite housing,
• said at least one sensor unit including
• a) an electrically conducting housing defining a compartment containing a dielectric slab therein, said dielectric slab having a selected thickness, the electrically conductive housing being attachable to a satellite;
• b) an electrically conducting electrode embedded in said dielectric slab a pre-selected distance below a top surface of the dielectric slab, said housing being mountable on a satellite with said top surface of said dielectric slab facing outwardly into space away from said satellite whereby charged particles emitted from sources external to the satellite penetrate said dielectric slab resulting in charge accumulation in the electrically conducting electrode to produce a floating DC voltage, and
• c) detection means for sensing the floating DC voltage developed on the electrically conducting electrode in said dielectric slab, due to the charge accumulation, and converting the floating DC voltage into an AC voltage representative of a charge buildup on said electrically conducting electrode.