Electrodynamic-Tether Magnetosphere Interaction From Capture to Low Jovian Orbit of its Spacecraft

An orbiting conductive tether provides a dissipative mechanism in planets that have magnetic field and ionosphere/magnetosphere. The Jovian system is a particularly appropriate place for use of an electrodynamic tether because the magnetic field is intense, the stationary orbit is close to the planet, and moon Io provides a dense plasma torus farther away. The interaction of the tether with the magnetized plasma is analyzed under a variety of conditions, since the spacecraft is captured into an equatorial, highly elliptical orbit with perijove inside the stationary orbit, till the spacecraft reaches a low circular orbit around Jupiter, below the radiation belts. The radiation dose accumulated as the apojove distance is reduced through of sequence of perijove passes, is studied.