SYSTEMS AND METHODS EMPLOYING MICRO-FABRICATED FIELD EMISSION DEVICES TO SENSE AND CONTROL POTENTIAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A SPACE OBJECT AND ITS SPACE PLASMA ENVIRONMENT, TO EMIT CHARGE FROM A SPACE OBJECT, AND IN USE WITH AN ELECTRODYNAMIC TETHER TO ADJUST AN ORBIT OF AN ORBITING SPACE OBJECT

摘要

Described are systems and methods employing micro-fabricated field emission devices to measure and control electrical potential of an object with respect to its environment and to alter an orbit of a space object. A field emission device having emitter and gate terminals is situated in a space plasma environment and can be connected to an object. A voltage applied across the terminals induces current to flow from the emitter terminal. The current can be drawn from the object. The applied voltage can be less than 100 volts. Current monitors measure current flowing from the emitter and to the gate. The electrical potential of the object can be controlled with respect to the space plasma environment. The device can be placed at one end of an electrodynamic tether deployed from an orbiting space object. Emission of the charge from the device can raise or lower the orbit of the space object.