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Electric charging of spacecraft is responsible for more than a half of registered anomalies in their operation. Static electricity may cause significant complications for lunar missions. Martian dust devils may produce radio noise and electric fields in excess of 1000 V/m.

The spatial distribution and the charge-accumulation kinetics during electron irradiation have been studied. The value of the injected charge which produces the destruction of the glass has been evaluated. Experiments have been made on the transmission of polarized light through a charged specimen. An optical method is proposed for measuring the distribution of the aecumulated-charge density throughout the specimen.

The behaviour of electron-irradiated inorganic glasses has been investigated. The coefficient of electron capture in the creation of a space charge is estimated. Experimental data on the spontaneous and initiated breakdowns of charged glasses are presented.

The features of formation of electric discharge in electron-irradiated glasses have been investigated. Laser emission was used to excite the discharge. The depth of the initiated discharge has been measured as a function of the sample thickness. Using rapid photographic recording, we have estimated the velocity of discharge propagation in glasses. An abnormal Lichtenberg figure formed as a result of the discharge initiated in the absorption of laser emission in the sample volume has been observed.