Meteoroid and orbital debris record of the Long Duration Exposure Facility

The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) was recovered in January 1990 following 5.7 years exposure of approx. 130 square meters of surface area in low-Earth orbit (250-179 miles). Kennedy Space Center acquired data are currently being reduced to yield accurate impact crater depths and diameters. Presented here is a preliminary accounting of the impact record based on the approx. 15.4 square meter surface area of LDEF's 6061-T6 aluminum frame, which was exposed in 26 different directions.