For several decades, a small, but growing collection of measurements has contributed to our understanding of materials performance in a variety of space environments. Measurements have ranged from relatively short term exposures during Space Shuttle missions in low Earth orbit (LEO) to multi-year exposures in LEO as well as mid-Earth orbit (MEO) and geosynchronous (GEO) orbit conditions. Recovered hardware from, and on-orbit inspections of, operational hardware, including the Space Transportation System (STS), Solar Maximum Satellite, Hubble Space Telescope, International Space Station, and Mir has contributed to our knowledge. The existence of the STS for ∼30 years, combined with the existence of the Mir and ISS platforms, provided a unique infrastructure for allowing on-orbit LEO materials exposures and subsequent recoveries. From hardware servicing missions, to the deployment and subsequent recapture of three different free-flyers, numerous materials have been returned to Earth for postflight analysis. Approaches to combining and making use of the available data, as well as relating materials performance lifetimes to environmental exposure levels will be discussed. Selected examples of materials performance will be presented. Limitations on current environmental models will be discussed. The use of electronic artificial intelligence systems to capture and retain data will be discussed. Brief recommendations concerning gaps in our knowledge and potentially useful investigations to improve the characterization of materials performance on spacecraft will be made.
Materials testing for space applications
2014
11 Seiten
Conference paper
Storage medium
English
Testing materials for space applications
TIBKAT | 1976
|A Combustion Research Facility for Testing Advanced Materials for Space Applications
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2003
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