Remember, the solar panels gather a lot of light from the Sun and convert it into energy. The energy powers the Space Station s equipment. The equipment in turn creates a lot of heat. This heat is then collected by another set of panels which sends the heat out into space. To protect the Station, the scientists have designed a Plasma Contractor Unit .
Space plasma floats around.
These floating bits carry their own electrical charge. The job of the Plasma Contractor Unit is to take away the electric charge carried by the space plasma.