EMC Safety Margin Verification for GEO-KOMPSAT Pyrotechnic Systems

Pyrotechnic initiators provide a source of pyrotechnic energy used to initiate a variety of space mechanisms. Pyrotechnic systems build in electromagnetic environment that may lead to critical or catastrophic hazards. Special precautions are need to prevent a pulse large enough to trigger the initiator from appearing in the pyrotechnic firing circuits at any but the desired time. The EMC verification shall be shown by analysis or test that the pyrotechnic systems meets the requirements of inadvertent activation. The MIL-STD-1576 and two range safeties, AFSPC and CSG, require the safety margin for electromagnetic potential hazards to pyrotechnic systems to a level at least 20 dB below the maximum no-fire power of the EED. The PC23 is equivalent to NASA standard initiator and the 1EPWH100 squib is ESA standard initiator. This paper verifies the two safety margins for electromagnetic potential hazards. The first is verified by analyzing against a RF power. The second is verified by testing against a DC current. The EMC safety margin requirement against RF power has been demonstrated through the electric field coupling analysis in differential mode with 21 dB both PC23 and 1EPWH100, and in common mode with 58 dB for PC23 and 48 dB for 1EPWH100 against the maximum no-fire power of the EED. Also, the EMC safety margin requirement against DC current has been demonstrated through the electrical isolation test for the pyrotechnic firing circuits with greater than 20 dB below the maximum no-fire current of the EED.