During the TSS-1R mission, the behavior of the ions flowing from the forward hemisphere of the Tethered Satellite System (TSS) satellite was examined as the potential on the satellite was changed from below to above 5 V. The ram energy of the ambient atomic oxygen ions is ~5 eV. For satellite potentials 5 V, ions were observed to be flowing from the forward region of the satellite. In the region sampled, the ion flux was a few percent of the ambient with energies of ~5 eV. The temperature of the out-flowing ions was observed to be enhanced, relative to the ambient ionosphere. The net current to the probe package became much more noisy for satellite potentials >5 V as compared with satellite potentials <5 V, indicating a more disturbed plasma environment. ¿ 1998 American Geophysical Union