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Environmental durability issues for solar power systems in low earth orbit
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Degroh, Kim K. Banks, Bruce A. Smith, Daniela C. |
| Copyright Year | 1994 |
| Description | 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. |
| File Size | 2240012 |
| Page Count | 14 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19950009355 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t5k984115 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 1994-11-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Spacecraft Propulsion And Power Earth Orbital Environments Organic Materials Space Debris Embrittlement Spacecraft Power Supplies Durability Thermal Fatigue Ceramics Solar Generators Ultraviolet Radiation Oxygen Atoms Low Earth Orbits Spacecraft Contamination Micrometeoroids Hubble Space Telescope Protective Coatings Long Duration Exposure Facility Impact Damage Erosion Teflon Trademark Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
