Whisker/Cone growth on the thermal control surfaces experiment no. S0069
- AZ Technology, Huntsville, AL (United States)
An unusual surface `growth` was found during scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigations of the Thermal Control Surface Experiment (TCSE) S0069 front thermal cover. This `growth` is similar to the cone type whisker growth phenomena as studied by G. K. Wehner beginning in the 1960`s. Extensive analysis has identified the most probable composition of the whiskers to be a silicate type glass. Sources of the growth material are outgassing products from the experiment and orbital atomic oxygen, which occurs naturally at the orbital altitudes of the LDEF mission in the form of neutral atomic oxygen. The highly ordered symmetry and directionality of the whiskers are attributed to the long term (5.8 year) stable flight orientation of the LDEF.
- Research Organization:
- NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 42777
- Report Number(s):
- N-95-23896; NASA-CP-3275-PT-2; L-17430B-PT-2; NAS-1.55:3275-PT-2; CONF-9311137-; TRN: 9523911
- 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 2; Levine, A.S.; PB: [10] p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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