SPACECRAFT ELECTRIC POTENTIAL MONITORING

A device for monitoring spacecraft electric potential includes a first conductor configured to be in electrical communication with a conductive structure of a spacecraft, a second conductor capacitively coupled to the first conductor, a switch connected to the first conductor and the second conductor such that closure of the switch electrically ties the first conductor to the second conductor, and a monitoring circuit in electrical communication with the second conductor, the monitoring circuit being configured to detect an electric potential of the second conductor relative to the first conductor, the detected electric potential being indicative of a change in electric potential of the first conductor relative to the second conductor since an opening of the switch.