Plasma sheath of moving spacecraft in magnetized plasma of low earth orbit

The charging process and plasma sheath structure of moving spacecraft in magnetized plasma of low earth orbit (LEO) are studied by means of 2.5-D electrostatic code. The relative motion is simulated by a plasma flowing past the probe and therefore a convection electric field is imposed. The results show that, in the LEO, the spacecraft is quickly (during a time interval t = 54ω (pe)^-1, ω (pe) is electron cyclotron frequency) charged up to the equilibrium negative potential. The increase of magnetic field makes absolute value of the negative potential decrease. The plasma sheath is symmetric around the spacecraft if the motion of the plasma is not considered, and is about several Debye length. The motion of the plasma will make the plasma sheath extend in the wake region.