Analytical studies, ground-test data, and flight data before 1967 indicated that degradation of Apollo thermal-control coatings could be expected, possibly to an extent requiring spacecraft design changes to accomplish the worst-case lunar-landing mission. On the Apollo 9 mission, specimens of Apollo thermal-control coatings were retrieved by the astronauts during the extravehicular activity. These specimens were the first to be returned to earth from space unaffected by entry conditions. Subsequent measurements of the thermophysical properties (solar absorptance and hemispherical emittance) of the thermal-control-sample coatings revealed degradation levels well within the design capability of the Apollo spacecraft.
Apollo 9 thermal-control-coating degradation
1972-06-01
Miscellaneous
No indication
English
APOLLO 9 Thermal-Control-Coating Degradation
NTIS | 1972
|Apollo 9 thermal-control-coating degradation
TIBKAT | 1972
|Apollo thermal-protection system development
AIAA | 1968
|Apollo thermal-protection system development
AIAA | 1970
|