Collection and review of metals data obtained from LDEF experiment specimens and support hardware
LDEF greatly extended the range of data available for metals exposed to the low-Earth-orbital environment. The effects of low-Earth-orbital exposure on metals include meteoroid and debris impacts, solar ultraviolet radiation, thermal cycling, cosmic rays, solar particles, and surface oxidation and contamination. This paper is limited to changes in surface composition and texture caused by oxidation and contamination. Surface property changes afford a means to study the environments (oxidation and contamination) as well as in-space stability of metal surfaces. The authors compare thermal-optical properties for bare aluminum and anodized aluminum clamps flown on LDEF. They also show that the silicon observed on the LDEF tray clamps and tray clamp bolt heads is not necessarily evidence of silicon contamination of LDEF from the shuttle. The paper concludes with a listing of LDEF reports that have been published thus far that contain significant findings concerning metals.
- Research Organization:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Hampton, VA (United States). Langley Research Center
- OSTI ID:
- 42772
- Report Number(s):
- N--95-23896; NASA-CP--3275-PT-2; L--17430B-PT-2; NAS--1.55:3275-PT-2; CONF-9311137--; CNN: NAS1-19247
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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