Kai Okrafka, mechanical engineer, describes why it is important to caution against electronic discharge when working with satellite instrumentation. An electronic discharge is what happens when you rub your feet on a carpet and then shock your friend. By rubbing the rug with your feet, you have put an electrical charge on your body which finds the best way to get to ground is to jump across the air and down through your friend. This “shock” of electric discharge can damage electronic components.