Remote charge sensing is a technique that can provide valuable insight into spacecraft‐environment interactions, as well as enable missions that leverage electrostatic interactions between multiple spacecraft or involve docking maneuvers in harsh charging environments. The concept discussed in this paper uses a co‐orbiting servicing spacecraft to measure the energies of secondary electrons or photoelectrons that are emitted from the target object with initial energies of a few electron volts. The electrons are accelerated toward the servicing spacecraft, which is at a known positive potential (relative to the target), where they are measured by an energy analyzer. Given the potential of the servicing spacecraft, the potential of the target can be accurately determined. Results are presented from experiments conducted in a vacuum chamber to investigate the touchless sensing concept. Specifically, the feasibility and accuracy of the electron method is considered for different materials, charge scenarios, and relative geometries. The results show that the surface potential of a flat plate can be accurately determined for a range of metallic surface materials, voltages, and relative angles.

中文翻译：

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电子方法进行航天器电荷感测的实验结果

远程电荷感测是一种可以提供对航天器与环境相互作用的宝贵见解的技术，还可以使任务利用多个航天器之间的静电相互作用或在恶劣的充电环境中进行对接演习。本文中讨论的概念使用了共轨维修航天器，以几伏特的初始能量测量从目标物体发出的二次电子或光电子的能量。电子朝着服务的航天器加速，该航天器处于已知的正电势（相对于目标），在此由能量分析仪测量。给定维修航天器的潜力，可以准确确定目标的潜力。结果是在真空室内进行的用于研究非接触式感应概念的实验的结果。具体来说，电子方法的可行性和准确性被考虑用于不同的材料，电荷情况和相对几何形状。结果表明，对于一系列金属表面材料，电压和相对角度，可以准确确定平板的表面电势。