Sustained Arc Between Primary Power Cables of a Satellite

We investigated the power loss due to the sustained arc between primary satellite power cables. If the multi layer insulator (MLI) film on a satellite is electrically floating, energetic electrons in space will charge this film. We carried out an ESD test on cables with cracks and wrapped with this film. When the negative voltage on the MLI exceeded 600 V, a trigger arc discharge occurred between the MLI and the cables. Subsequently, a secondary arc electric discharge occurred between the cables themselves. After several discharges, this secondary arc caused sustained arc which burned out the cables. The heat caused by arc tracking between the hot and return cables made them burn out. If this phenomenon had occurred in space, the satellite would have suffered great damage.