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Environmental durability issues for solar power systems in low earth orbit
Kim K. deGroh,Bruce A. Banks,Daniela C. Smith +2 more
- pp 19
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TLDR
In this article, the authors give an overview of the LEO environmental issues as they relate to space solar power system materials, such as atomic oxygen erosion of organic materials, undercutting of protective coatings, UV darkening of ceramics, UV embrittlement of Teflon and contamination due to silicone and organic materials.Abstract:
Space solar power systems for use in the low Earth orbit (LEO) environment experience a variety of harsh environmental conditions. Materials used for solar power generation in LEO need to be durable to environmental threats such as atomic oxygen, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, thermal cycling, and micrometeoroid and debris impact. Another threat to LEO solar power performance is due to contamination from other spacecraft components. This paper gives an overview of these LEO environmental issues as they relate to space solar power system materials. Issues addressed include atomic oxygen erosion of organic materials, atomic oxygen undercutting of protective coatings, UV darkening of ceramics, UV embrittlement of Teflon, effects of thermal cycling on organic composites, and contamination due to silicone and organic materials. Specific examples of samples from the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) and materials returned from the first servicing mission of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) are presented. Issues concerning ground laboratory facilities which simulate the LEO environment are discussed along with ground-to-space correlation issues.read more
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Book
Degradation of Spacecraft Materials
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe specific space environmental threats to exterior spacecraft materials and provide recommendations on reducing or preventing space environmental degradation through appropriate materials selection, and discuss issues associated with interpreting materials degradation results and deficiencies of ground testing.
Book
Low Earth Orbital Atomic Oxygen Interactions with Materials
TL;DR: In this article, the low Earth orbital environment (LEO) is formed by photo dissociation of diatomic oxygen by short wavelength (< 243 nm) solar radiation which has sufficient energy to break the 5.12 eV O2 diatomic bond in an environment where the mean free path is sufficiently long (~ 108 meters).
Journal ArticleDOI
Environments, needs and opportunities for future space photovoltaic power generation: A review
TL;DR: In this article, the potential and requirements of photovoltaic arrays to provide energy for more than 30 mission types to explore 14 celestial bodies in our solar system is assessed by reviewing specific constrains of these worlds: solar irradiance levels, mission lifetimes, extreme temperatures and thermal cycling, as well as several specific characteristics such as radiation, chemical compounds, gravity, pressure and dust.
Book ChapterDOI
Chapter 23 – Degradation of spacecraft materials
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide descriptions of specific space environmental threats to exterior spacecraft materials, including atomic oxygen, contamination, radiation, temperature effects and temperature cycling, and micrometeoroids and orbital debris.
Investigation of Teflon FEP Embrittlement on Spacecraft in Low-Earth Orbit
Kim K. deGroh,Daniela C. Smith +1 more
TL;DR: In this paper, Teflon (registered trademark) FEP (fluorinated ethylene-propylene) is commonly used on exterior spacecraft surfaces in the low Earth orbit (LEO) environment for thermal control.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Atomic oxygen testing with thermal atom systems - A critical evaluation
TL;DR: The use of thermal atom (kinetic energy near 0.04 eV) test methods as a materials selection and screening technique for LEO spacecraft is critically evaluated in this paper.
Atomic oxygen undercutting of defects on SiO2 protected polyimide solar array blankets
TL;DR: In this paper, a comparison of undercutting effects in isotropic plasma asher and directed beam tests is reported, compared with computational undercutting profiles based on Monte Carlo methods and their implication on LEO performance of protected polymers.
Solar exposure of LDEF experiment trays
R. J. Bourassa,J. R. Gillis +1 more
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented tables and figures of calculated solar exposure for the experiment rows, longerons, and end bays of the spacecraft as functions of time in orbit.
O-atom degradation mechanisms of materials
TL;DR: In this article, the low Earth orbit environment is described and the critical issues relating to oxygen atom degradation are discussed and some analytic techniques for studying the problem and preliminary results on the underlying degradation mechanisms are presented.
Preliminary findings of the LDEF Materials Special Investigation Group
Bland A. Stein,H. Gary Pippin +1 more
TL;DR: The LDEF Space Environmental Effects on Materials Special Investigation Group (MSIG) as mentioned in this paper was formed to explore the expanded materials analysis opportunities available in the LDEF structure and on experiment trays.