Electromagnetic interference control techniques for spacecraft harness

The electrical harness is an essential part of all the spacecraft. The prime contractors of spacecraft are especially active in efforts to optimize harness size and mass. The shielding of the harness for Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) control is an important element in this optimization, because cable shields and especially connector backshells have a significant mass impact. We present results of a recently finished study of the European Space Agency (ESA) conducted by a consortium of Astrium SAS, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and axon´ cable. First some basic principles of harness shielding are recalled, then important test and simulation results are presented, followed by a brief summary of the derived guidelines on EMI control techniques for spacecraft harness. These guidelines also consider a trade-off with mass increase and implementation constraints.