On-board equipment testing procedure for the effects of electrostatic discharges

Background. The relevance of the topic of this work is due to the need to improve the reliability and quality of the assessment of the stability of the onboard electronic equipment of spacecraft to electrostatic discharges. Aim. Investigation of the possibilities of using the electron flux in vacuum as a test effect on the spacecraft’s on-board radioelectronic equipment in assessing its resistance to electrostatic discharges. Methods. Field experiment, research laboratory tests, modeling, mock-up, expert assessments. The article considers the conditions for the existence of an electronic stream in the «electronic spotlight» and «scanning» modes. A mock-up of an electronic device, which was previously used for testing in the atmosphere of air, was used as a test object. It has been structurally modified taking into account the dimensions, wiring diagram, tooling and electrophysical characteristics of the vacuum chamber. The modified layout is a first-level module with antennas located inside the housing. During the experiment, a vacuum meter, a kilovoltmeter, a digital oscilloscope with a bandwidth of 500 MHz, a high-voltage cable, a two-wire line, a hermetic plate, and an electron gun were used. The required vacuum was created using an automated pumping system. Results. The conditions for the existence of an electron flow in a vacuum chamber with a pressure of up to 10–7 mm Hg have been experimentally established. The results of research tests of the radioelectronic module in the «electronic searchlight» and «scanning» modes have been obtained. The main types of interference from the action of electrostatic discharges are investigated. The analysis of the waveforms was carried out. Based on these results, a methodology has been developed for testing the onboard equipment of spacecraft for the effects of electrostatic discharges. The proposed method provides testing at a level of operating discharge current up to 30 µA with particle energy from 5 to 50 keV. Conclusion. The test procedure and the means of its implementation comply with the basic requirements of GOST «Resistance to electrostatic discharges» and can be used for ground tests of spacecraft onboard equipment at four degrees of rigidity.