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Space environmental effects on spacecraft thermal control coatingsA large portion of the space based applications in the near future are for low Earth orbit (LEO) including the Space Station Freedom (SSF). The lifetime needs for materials on the SSF is 30 years. Materials must be selected which can withstand the deleterious effects of LEO. Environmental effects in the LEO include atomic oxygen, UV, ionizing radiation, and hypervelocity impact. These effects can adversely affect the surface properties of materials. This is particularly critical in the case of thermal control materials where the efficiency of the thermal control is dependent on the stability of the surface properties. The current baseline thermal coating for the SSF radiators is Ag Teflon. The surface property requirements for the coatings are a solar absorptance of 0.2 and an infrared emittance of 0.8. The effects of atomic oxygen and UV radiation on the baseline coating and several other candidate thermal control materials were studied. The thermal control radiator materials included Ag and Al backed Teflon, H2SO4 anodized Al, sputter deposited SiO2 on Al, and Ag and Al backed polychloro trifluoroethylene. The simulation of several of the LEO environment constituents provided a data base to aid in the selection of the radiator thermal control material to meet the life requirements of the SSF. The effects are illustrated of the environment on thermal control coatings and the importance of this factor in the selection process for long life spacecraft materials.
Document ID
19910009835
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Bartosik, L. G.
(McDonnell-Douglas Space Systems Co. Huntington Beach, CA, United States)
Babel, H. W.
(McDonnell-Douglas Space Systems Co. Huntington Beach, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, 16th Space Simulation Conference Confirming Spaceworthiness Into the Next Millennium
Subject Category
Nonmetallic Materials
Accession Number
91N19148
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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