Performance characterization of EURECA retroreflectors with fluoropolymer-filled SiO(x) protective coatings
- Cleveland State Univ., OH (United States)
Aluminized corner-cube polymethylmethacrylate retroreflectors were coated with 92% SiO(x) - 8% fluoropolymer (by volume) and flown on the EURECA spacecraft. The fluoropolymer-filled SiO(x) protective coating was found to be durable to atomic oxygen when exposed in a ground-based plasma asher to an anticipated mission fluence of 2x10(exp 20) atoms/cm(exp 2). Unprotected retroreflector surfaces were found to develop highly diffuse reflectance characteristics, thus inhibiting their use for laser retroreflector purposes. A noncontacting retroreflector optical characterization system was constructed and used to measure the optical retroreflection characteristics of the following retroreflector materials: uncoated unexposed, coated unexposed, both uncoated and coated ground laboratory atomic oxygen exposed, and coated exposed to space atomic oxygen on the EURECA spacecraft. A comparison of the optical characterizations is presented.
- Research Organization:
- NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 42734
- Report Number(s):
- N-95-23796; NASA-CP-3275-PT-1; L-17430A-PT-1; NAS-1.55:3275-PT-1; CONF-9311137-; TRN: 9523802
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 3. long duration exposure flight (LDEF) symposium, Williamsburg, VA (United States), 8-12 Nov 1993; Other Information: PBD: Feb 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of LDEF: 69 Months in Space. Third Post-Retrieval Symposium, part 1; Levine, A.S.; PB: [10] p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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