Abstract The Long Duration Exposure Facility was recovered in January, 1990, following 5.7 years of continuous exposure in low-Earth orbit. The gravity-stabilized nature of LDEF permits the resolution of the flux and trajectories of impacting meteoroids and spacecraft debris particulates. We have completed the collection of high-resolution, stereoscopic video imaging of all large impact features on the entire LDEF, and present here the preliminary results of our efforts to reduce these digitized images, and extract critical data. Contrary to our prior assumption, we find that impact craters in the T6 Al alloy are not paraboloid in cross section, but rather are better described by a 6th-order polynomial curve. We explore the implications of this discovery. We present results of detailed crater surveys of LDEF frame intercostal members, finding a unusual local variation in the impact frequency. In a discussion of impactor fluxes derived from LDEF results we explore apparent directionalities for impacting particulates which are not accounted for in current models. We briefly describe the special database designed and used by the M&D SIG. Finally, we present a list of recommendations for further LDEF analyses which will be necessary to ensure the safe design of spacecraft.


    Zugriff

    Zugriff prüfen

    Verfügbarkeit in meiner Bibliothek prüfen

    Bestellung bei Subito €


    Exportieren, teilen und zitieren



    Titel :

    Results of the LDEF meteoroid and debris special investigation group


    Beteiligte:

    Erschienen in:

    Erscheinungsdatum :

    01.01.1993


    Format / Umfang :

    11 pages




    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch



    LDEF Meteoroid and Debris Special Investigation Group Investigations and Activities at the Johnson Space Center

    See, T. H. / Zolensky, M. E. / Bernhard, R. P. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1995


    Meteoroid/debris impact analysis application to LDEF, EURECA and Columbus

    Drolshagen, G. / European Space Agency | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1993


    Morphology of meteoroid and space debris craters on LDEF metal targets

    Love, S. G. / Brownlee, D. E. / King, N. L. et al. | NTRS | 1994


    Morphology of Meteoroid and Space Debris Craters on LDEF Metal Targets

    Love, S. G. / Brownlee, D. E. / King, N. L. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1994


    Morphology of Meteoroid and Space Debris Craters on LDEF Metal Targets

    Love, S. G. / Brownlee, D. E. / King, N. L. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1994