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From: Emanuel.henr@XEROX.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Aquiring a charge in Space ?
Message-ID: <860108-151755-5067@Xerox>
Date: Wed, 8-Jan-86 18:12:00 EST
Article-I.D.: Xerox.860108-151755-5067
Posted: Wed Jan  8 18:12:00 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 9-Jan-86 03:08:53 EST
References: <ota@s1-b.arpa>
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Organization: The ARPA Internet
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	If a body is in low Earth orbit, will the surfaces of the object become
charged by triboelectric effect from collisions with molecules that are
present, albiet present though few in number compared to the atmosphere,
in the space it passes through.  Is there a reasonable guess as to the
charge level that might result.  I expect there might be an equilibrium
level that is reached, but that is just a guess.

	(triboelectric generation is generation of charge due to rubbing
dissimilar materials together.  Fur and hard rubber, or dragging your
feet on a wool carpet. )

							Keith Emanuel
							Human Factors
							Xerox Corp.