Mechanisms of the electro-jet thraster impacts on the operation of the spacecraft on board equipment

It is considered the possible mechanisms of the impacts of the low-temperature plasma generated by electro-jet thrusters on the spacecraft on board equipment. It is shown that there are at least three mechanisms of such nature including the generation of the leak currents, the volumetric discharge and the surface arcing. It is noted that with the first and the second mechanisms only, the plasma parameters can effect the values of the discharge currents. With the third mechanism, the plasma acts as a discharge initiator and does not significantly effect the discharge characteristics. For the volumetric breakdown and surface arcing, the current amplitude can vary from tens ofmAmps to units of Amps thus actually jeopardizing the operation of the on board equipment.