Identification of the principal characteristics of an ionospheric Langmuir Probe for furture satellite space mission

Langmuir probes are instruments devoted to the in-situ measurement of plasma parameters,
such as floating and plasma potentials, as well as density and electrons temperature. Un
derstanding the interactions among this type of payload, the satellite body, and the orbital
environment is crucial to determine whether specific geometries and conditions could create
phenomena that may affect the plasma measurement. A realistic CAD model of an ionospheric
plasma probe is implemented with the SPIS (Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software) program
ming environment. SPIS, developed by the SPINE community, is used to simulate the mutual
interaction between the satellite and the probe with the ionospheric plasma (LEO) using the
particle-in-cell method. The results of the numerical simulation are then compared with real
satellite data (from Swarm, CSES, and DEMETER missions) and data collected from a similar
instrument of the INAF-IAPS diagnostic system of the INAF-IAPS Plasma Chamber in Rome