Satellites and the Earth's Magnetic Field

[AdenB14]

So i was just wondering if a satellite's circuitry could be affected by the Earth's own magnetic field inducing a current, if it was moving through it quickly enough (the space station for example), and how it might mess with it? Also considering a satellite is a big hunk of metal, could passing over areas with a stronger magnetic field strength than others affect its orbit? Just curious, any answers would help please & thanks.

 

[berkeman]

So i was just wondering if a satellite's circuitry could be affected by the Earth's own magnetic field inducing a current, if it was moving through it quickly enough (the space station for example), and how it might mess with it? Also considering a satellite is a big hunk of metal, could passing over areas with a stronger magnetic field strength than others affect its orbit?Just curious, any answers would help please & thanks.

Welcome to the PF.

To induce a current, the magnetic field through a loop must be changing (in magnitude or direction or both). For the ISS in a mostly equatorial orbit, the magnetic field is pretty much the same magnitude, and pointing the same direction for its whole orbit.

For a satellite in a polar orbit, the magnitude and direction will change, but very slowly (it takes half an orbit to reverse the direction), and the Earth's magnetic field is very small, especially at orbital heights. With a sensitive instrument, you could detect the changes, but it should not pose a problem for most circuitry in a satellite or space station.

http://www.unc.edu/depts/oceanweb/turtles/geomag.gif

 

[BvU]

Hello Aden,

It's one of the ISS issues, yes.
Here is a picture on page 25

 

[davenn]

So i was just wondering if a satellite's circuitry could be affected by the Earth's own magnetic field inducing a current, if it was moving through it quickly enough (the space station for example), and how it might mess with it? Also considering a satellite is a big hunk of metal, could passing over areas with a stronger magnetic field strength than others affect its orbit?

For a satellite in a polar orbit, the magnitude and direction will change, but very slowly (it takes half an orbit to reverse the direction), and the Earth's magnetic field is very small, especially at orbital heights. With a sensitive instrument, you could detect the changes, but it should not pose a problem for most circuitry in a satellite or space station.

agreed

@AdenB14
of bigger concern is the effects from the Van Allen radiation belts for the very high orbiting satellites ... electronic for space use tend to be "radiation hardened"

A list of links to read up on ...
https://www.bing.com/search?q=radia...&src=IE-SearchBox&FORM=IENTTR&conversationid=

For LEO ( Low Earth Orbit) satellites, including the ISS ... heating and subsequent expansion of the Earths atmosphere is a much bigger problem
This was the main reason for the loss of the Skylab space station's premature re-entry and demise ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkylabDave

 

[berkeman]

Hello Aden,

It's one of the ISS issues, yes.
Here is a picture on page 25

Interesting, I didn't now the ISS orbit was inclined that much. Still, I guess I'll have to do more reading to see how such a small change in B-field can induce much in the way of voltages or currents...

 

[davenn]

Hello Aden,

It's one of the ISS issues, yes.
Here is a picture on page 25

but fortunately one that was solved and alleviating the threat

Dave

 

[davenn]

It's one of the ISS issues, yes.
Here is a picture on page 25

awesome article ... saved

 

[Baluncore]

Also considering a satellite is a big hunk of metal, could passing over areas with a stronger magnetic field strength than others affect its orbit?

As a satellite moves through the Earth's magnetic field, eddy currents in the conductive parts of the satellite will cause a very small drag that will gradually bring the satellite down into a lower orbit, (where counter-intuitively, it will be traveling very slightly faster).

If the satellite is spin stabilised then eddy currents due to interaction of the spin in the Earth's magnetic field may lead to instability of the spin axis.