The Komplast Experiment: Space Environmental Effects after 12 Years in LEO (and Counting)The Komplast materials experiment was designed by the Khrunichev Space Center, together with other Russian scientific institutes, and has been carried out by Mission Control Moscow since 1998. The purpose is to study the effect of the low earth orbit (LEO) environment on exposed samples of various spacecraft materials. The Komplast experiment began with the launch of the first International Space Station (ISS) module on November 20, 1998. Two of eight experiment panels were retrieved during Russian extravehicular activity in February 2011 after 12 years of LEO exposure, and were subsequently returned to Earth by Space Shuttle "Discovery" on the STS-133/ULF-5 mission. The retrieved panels contained an experiment to detect micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) impacts, radiation sensors, a temperature sensor, several pieces of electrical cable, both carbon composite and adhesive-bonded samples, and many samples made from elastomeric and fluoroplastic materials. Our investigation is complete and a summary of the results obtained from this uniquely long-duration exposure experiment will be presented.
Document ID
20140006962
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Shaevich, Sergei K. (Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center Moscow, Russian Federation)
Aleksandrov, Nicholai G. (Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center Moscow, Russian Federation)
Shumov, Andrei E. (Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center Moscow, Russian Federation)
Novikov, L. S. (Moscow State Univ. Russian Federation)
Alred, John A. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Shindo, David J. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Kravchenko, Michael (Boeing Research and Technology Houston, TX, United States)
Golden, Johnny L. (Boeing Research and Technology Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
June 10, 2014
Publication Date
June 2, 2014
Subject Category
Composite MaterialsTechnology Utilization And Surface Transportation
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-30459Report Number: JSC-CN-30459
Meeting Information
Meeting: Society for the Advencement of Materials and Process Engineering
Location: Covina, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: June 2, 2014
End Date: June 5, 2014
Sponsors: Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering
IDRelationTitle20140006963See AlsoEfficacy of Antimicrobials on Bacteria Cultured in a Spaceflight Analogue20140013062See AlsoThe Komplast Experiment: Space Environmental Effects after 12 Years in LEO (and Counting)20140013062See AlsoThe Komplast Experiment: Space Environmental Effects after 12 Years in LEO (and Counting)20140006963See AlsoEfficacy of Antimicrobials on Bacteria Cultured in a Spaceflight Analogue