Low Earth orbital (LEO) atomic oxygen cannot only erode the external surfaces of polymers on spacecraft, but can cause degradation of surfaces internal to components on the spacecraft where openings to the space environment exist.
The effect that atomic oxygen has on a particular material on a spacecraft is dependent upon how much atomic oxygen arrives at the surface, atom energy, and can be affected by mechanical loading, temperature, and other components in the environment (UV …
ATOMIC OXYGEN EFFECTS ON SPACECRAFT SURFACES 1. PURPOSE This document provides guidelines in selecting materials for satellites and space platforms, de-signed to operate within the low-Earth orbit (LEO) environment, which limit the effects of atomic oxygen (AO) interactions with spacecraft surfaces. It serves as a revision of TM-100351.
Atomic oxygen, formed in Earth’s thermosphere, interacts readily with many materials on spacecraft flying in low Earth orbit (LEO). All hydrocarbon based polymers and graphite are easily oxidized upon the impact of ~4.5 eV atomic oxygen as …
Extreme conditions in the ISS space environment include exposure to extreme heat and cold cycling, ultra-vacuum, atomic oxygen, and high energy radiation.
article discusses some of the effect of atomic oxygen and thermal vacuum on spacecraft materials, shows how to extrapolate these effects into higher orbits, and suggests alternative materials. INTRODUCTION
Low Earth Orbital Atomic Oxygen Erosion Effect on Spacecraft …
Apr 23, 2013 · The present article, studies the variation of atomic oxygen erosion effect with various parameters, including spacecraft altitude, orientation, orbital inclination, mission duration and solar activity variation.
Effect of low earth orbit atomic oxygen on spacecraft materials
The basic interaction mechanism of AO with spacecraft materials and quantification of its effect on materials performance are briefly discussed. After providing a list of materials susceptible to the LEO environment, the paper focuses on the degradation mechanism of …
The effect that atomic oxygen has on a particular material on a spacecraft is dependent upon how much atomic oxygen arrives at the surface, atom energy, and can be affected by mechanical loading, temperature, and other components in the environment (UV …
The Effects of Atomic Oxygen on the Outgassing Properties of Spacecraft …
Atomic oxygen (AO) and outgassing are among the chief concerns that spacecraft engineers must design for in order to ensure the safety of a spacecraft. AO is monatomic oxygen (O1) that is created when Ultraviolet (UV) radiation photochemically disassociates diatomic oxygen (O2) in …