USED SCIENCE HARDWARE:

Spectrozonal ultraviolet system Fialka-MV-Kosmos, including:

• UV chamber;
• spectrometer;
• videocamera;
• set of interference filters.

CONSUMABLES:

• Video cassettes mini-DV;
• 3,5"-diskettes

PURPOSE:

Verification of available discharge current processes on the ISS predicted theoretically.
Detection of dependence of current process intensity in plasma environment of the station upon the ISS configuration, its in-orbit position, operation of external onboard systems and seasonal change in outer space environment by optical radiation characteristics.

OBJECTIVES:

• Verification of physical model simulating interaction of plasma sheath with oppositely charged ISS structural members, as well as different types of the ISS RS external coatings.
• Study of space factor impact (geomagnetic field, solar radiation, incoming ionosphere, flows of auroral particles and shocks of micrometeoroids) on initiation, intensity and duration of electric discharge processes.

EXPECTED RESULTS:

Electric discharges passing through the ISS plasma environment and caused by high-voltage potential of the USOS solar arrays can produce effects on electric potential of the station body and make changes in operating conditions of electronic equipment placed externally, as well as affect safety of cosmonauts’ activities during EVA. This experiment will enable to update the physical model of the ISS plasma environment, adjust operating conditions of hardware, predict unfavorable periods for EVA, as well as make an assessment of a potential negative effect of arising currents on the integrity of the ISS separate structural members.

EXPERIMENT RESULTS:

3,5"-diskettes with the recorded radiation spectrum;
video cassettes mini-DV with the recorded phenomenon under study;
ballistic data (ISS orientation, ISS altitude, geographic coordinates of subsatellite point, Sun and Moon angles) for referencing the measurement results.