Emanuel.henr@XEROX.ARPA (01/09/86)
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.