NASA-HDBK-4002B - Mitigating In-Space Charging Effects - A Guideline

Sep 15, 2026

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NASA Technical Handbook NASA-HDBK-4002B provides engineering guidance to mitigate the in-flight buildup of electrical charge on spacecraft internal components and external surfaces caused by space plasmas and high-energy electrons. It establishes a common framework for consistent practices across NASA programs and is applicable to any spacecraft. The handbook supports system design, construction, selection, management, support, and operation by classifying related items, processes, and materials, and by outlining lessons learned and possible options. It emphasizes tailoring guidelines for mission-specific requirements through ESD expertise.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages209

Reading Time8 h 47 min

AccessFree to download

Document History Log

Foreword

1. Scope

1.1 Purpose

1.2 Applicability

2. Applicable Documents

3. Acronyms, Abbreviations, Symbols, and Definitions

3.1 Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Symbols

3.2 Definitions

4. Introduction to Physics of Charging and Discharging

4.1 Physical Concepts

| | METRIC/SI (ENGLISH) | | --- | --- | | NASA TECHNICAL HANDBOOK
Office of the NASA Chief Engineer
| NASA-HDBK-4002B | | | Approved: 2022-06-07 Superseding NASA-HDBK-4002A | | MITIGATING IN-SPACE CHARGING EFFECTS—A GUIDELINE
Trade names and trademarks are used in this NASA Technical Handbook for identification only. Their usage does not constitute an official endorsement, either expressed or implied, by NASA. | | DOCUMENT HISTORY LOG | Status | Document
Revision | Change
Number | Approval Date | Description | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Baseline | | | 1999-02-17 | Initial Release | | Revision | A | | 2011-03-03 | General Revision: Merged NASA TP-2361 and NASAHDBK-4002; reorganized and changed/updated particular design rules and recommendations; added solar array design rules; enhanced appendices with simple surface charging equations; enhanced environments descriptions and equations; and added index. | | Revision | B | | 2022-06-07 | Significant changes were made to this NASA Technical Handbook. It is recommended that it be reviewed in its entirety before implementation.
Key changes: Updated many figures including Figures 1 and 2; corrected typos and errors in equations and tables; improved statistical details for the environmental descriptions; clarified the explanations based on inputs and questions on the previous version; and added the knowledge checks. | FOREWORD This NASA Technical Handbook is published by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a guidance document to provide engineering information; lessons learned; possible options to address technical issues; classification of similar items, materials, or processes; interpretative direction and techniques; and any other type of guidance information that may help the Government or its contractors in the design, construction, selection, management, support, or operation of systems, products, processes, or services. This NASA Technical Handbook applicable to NASA Headquarters and NASA Centers, including Component Facilities and Technical and Service Support Centers. It may also apply to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (a Federally Funded Research and Development Center), other contractors, recipients of grants, cooperative agreements, or other agreements only to the extent specified or referenced in applicable contracts, grants, or agreements. This NASA Technical Handbook establishes a common framework for consistent practices across NASA programs. Its contents are equally applicable to any spacecraft. It was developed to address the concerns associated with the in-flight buildup of charge on internal spacecraft components and on external surfaces related to space plasmas and high-energy electrons and the consequences of that charge buildup. This NASA Technical Handbook is not a substitute for engineering expertise but is instead meant to serve as a guide. Simply applying guidelines in this NASA Technical Handbook for a specific mission does not make good requirements. Tailoring the guidelines for a specific mission by an ESD expert is essential for good requirements. Failure to properly take into account spacecraft charging concerns has been found to significantly contribute to the loss of spacecraft functions and indeed loss of the entire vehicle. Requests for information should be submitted via “Feedback” at [https://standards.nasa.gov](https://standards.nasa.gov). Requests for changes to this NASA Technical Handbook should be submitted via MSFC Form 4657, Change Request for a NASA Engineering Standard. Original Signed by Adam West for Ralph R. Roe, Jr. NASA Chief Engineer June 7, 2022 Approval Date TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE DOCUMENT HISTORY LOG........................................................................................ 2 FOREWORD.................................................................................................................... 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS......

FAQs

What problem does NASA-HDBK-4002B address?

It addresses the in-flight buildup of charge on internal spacecraft components and external surfaces related to space plasmas and high-energy electrons, and the consequences of that charge buildup.

Is this handbook a replacement for engineering expertise?

No. It is intended as a guide, not a substitute for engineering expertise; applying guidelines alone does not create good requirements.

How should the guidance be used for specific missions?

Guidelines must be tailored for the specific mission by an ESD expert to form appropriate, good requirements and to avoid spacecraft function loss.

Sep 15, 2026

Upload by Fahsai