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Analysis of impactor residues in tray clamps from the Long Duration Exposure Facility. Part 1: Clamps from Bay A of the satellite

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7369097

The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) was placed in low Earth orbit (LEO) in 1984 and was recovered 5.7 years later. The LDEF was host to several individual experiments that were specifically designed to characterize critical aspects of meteoroid and debris environment in LEO. It was realized from the beginning, however, that the most efficient use of the satellite would be to examine the entire surface of the Earth for impact features. In this regard, particular interest has centered on common exposed materials that faced in all LDEF pointing directions. Among the most important of these materials is the tray clamps. Therefore, in an effort to understand the nature of particulates in LEO and their effects on spacecraft hardware better, residues found in impact features on LDEF tray clamp surfaces are being analyzed. This catalog presents all data from clamps from Bay A of the LDEF. Subsequent catalogs will include clamps from succeeding bays of the satellite.

Research Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Houston, TX (United States). Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
OSTI ID:
7369097
Report Number(s):
N-93-22006; NASA-TM--104759; S--708; NAS--1.15:104759
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English