Modular Standardized Deployable Booms for VLF Transmission and Space-Based Radiation Belt Remediation

Energetic electron belts, produced by natural processes, hostile, or accidental high-altitude nuclear detonation (HAND) events would persist and dominate the radiation environment and significantly degrade low Earth orbit (LEO) assets. Even a relatively low-yield nuclear device can result in depletion of all un-hardened LEO assets within a short time. Replacement of assets in this environment without clean-up isn’t practical, because their lifetime would be vastly degraded. Methods are being investigated to reduce the intensity of enhanced radiation belts by transmitting VLF electromagnetic waves from space-based assets which will pitch-angle scatter the electrons via cyclotron-resonant wave-particle interactions. The proposed effort is concerned with the design and development of responsive approaches for enabling technology necessary to make such a system operational: 1. Conductive, high-capacitance, long (50-1,000 m deployed length) VLF antenna booms, with high volumetric stowage efficiencies. 2. VLF Transmitter (including control, amplification and adaptive tuning capabilities), which when coupled with the conductive antennas comprise the primary payload of the operational system. 3. Control and isolation technology, necessary to prevent low frequency structure interactions that would otherwise interfere with satellite pointing control and stability performance.