SPACE ENVIRONMENTS SEMINAR—PART III

Spacecraft Environmental Interactions:

Atmospheric/Ionospheric Effects and Contamination

In this review, the atmospheric and ionospheric environments of the Earth and the other solar system bodies along with various induced man-made environments will be described. Representative model results and the formulas used to develop them will be covered. In addition, the corresponding interactions (e.g., drag, contamination, surface erosion, glow, ionospheric propagation, and plasma interactions) between these environments and spacecraft are reviewed. In particular, these interactions and their mitigation methods need to be considered for the current generation of cubesats as they can limit spacecraft lifetimes and seriously affect operations.

Tentative Agenda (Updated): (All Time PDT (GMT -0700)) (US and Canada)

1300 Welcome

1305 Presentation and Q&A

1505 Additional Q&A (if needed) / adjourn.

Dr. Garrett has a doctorate in Space Physics and Astronomy from Rice University. He has over 150 publications on the space environment and its effects with specific emphasis in the areas of atmospheric physics, the low earth ionosphere, radiation, micrometeoroids, space plasma environments, and effects on materials and systems in space. While on active duty in the Air Force he served as Project Scientist for the highly successful SCATHA program which studied the effects of charging on spacecraft. For this he was awarded the Harold Brown Award, the Air Force’s highest scientific award. In 1992, he was selected for a joint DoD/NASA assignment at the Pentagon as part of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization where he acted as the Deputy Program Manager for the Clementine Lunar Mission and Program Manager for the Clementine InterStage Adapter Satellite (ISAS). For contributions to these missions, he was awarded NASA's Medal for Exceptional Engineering Achievement. After a 30 years career in the USAF Reserves, he retired in 2002 as a full Colonel and was awarded the AF Legion of Merit. During his 43-year career at JPL, he has been responsible for defining the space environment and its effects on the reliability of many NASA missions. He has also published several textbooks on the space environment and its impact on spacecraft design and reliability. Dr. Garrett is an international consultant on the terrestrial and interplanetary space environments and spacecraft reliability having worked for INTELSAT, L’Garde, NASDA, LORAL, CNES, and other organizations. In 2006 Dr. Garrett received NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal for “his achievements in advancing the understanding of space environments and effects.” Dr. Garrett co-authored with Mr. Albert Whittlesey the primary NASA standard on spacecraft surface and internal charging for earth missions. Dr. Garrett retired from JPL in January of 2023. He was made a Fellow of the AIAA in 2019 and received the AIAA James Van Allen Space Environments Award in 2022.