Preliminary findings of the LDEF materials special investigation group

Presented here are the charter and scope of the Long Duration Exposure Facility's (LDEF) Space Environmental Effects on Materials Special Investigation Group (MSIG) activities, and an overview of of preliminary observations. These observations of low-Earth orbit environmental effects on material were made in space during during LDEF retrieval and during LDEF tray deintegration. Also included are initial findings of laboratory analysis of LDEF materials.