Abstract: Atomic oxygen (AO), a major component of the low earth orbit (LEO) environment, can affect the life and property of spacecraft due to AO interaction with surface materials of spacecraft. So AO effects study has become a main part of the research programs on LEO environment effects. The system configuration and working principle of the ground based AO effects simulation facility in which electron is generated by filament discharge and bound up in magnetic field are presented in this paper. The operation characteristics of the facility are introduced and a rule of plasma parameters with the change of the control condition is acquired. The ground based AO effect simulation facilities are introduced and classified according to the working principles. A ground based simulation test of Kapton material was performed in this facility, and the results are similar to those of the space flight exposure tests.

Key words: atom ic oxygen effects, ground-based facility, low earth o rbit