Engineering topics

O'Neal, Robert L.

Publications and source records attributed to O'Neal, Robert L..

4 records

NASA NTRS1992

Interactions of the space environments with the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF)

The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) was retrieved from space after 69 months in orbit. Post-retrieval observations of the facility and the 57 experiments that were onboard have revealed unique and valuable observations of the space environments and the interactions of these environments with the LDEF during the prolonged stay. This paper describes the LDEF, the onboard experiments, the flight mission, and what some of the post-retrieval LDEF observations have revealed about the radiation, meteoroids, manmade debris, atomic oxygen, and contamination environments and their effects on spacecraft.

Kinard, William H.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) results

This paper presents an overview of the initial observations of the Long Duration Exposure Facility and the 57 onboard experiments which were retrieved from space on January 12, 1990, during the Space Shuttle STS Mission 32. The facility and the 57 science, technology, and applications experiments had remained in space for almost 6 years. The initial and the continuing observations of this retrieved hardware have provided, and will continue to provide for a number of years in the future, a wealth of basic science data on the environments of near-earth space and a unique opportunity to observe and study long duration synergistic effects of these space environments on a large array of typical spacecraft materials and systems.

Kinard, William H.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Degradation of materials properties in space-overview of LDEF (Long Duration Exposure Facility)

This paper presents an overview of the initial observations of the Long Duration Exposure Facility and, in particular, the degradation of the onboard materials. The LDEF was retrieved from space on January 12, 1990, during the Space Shuttle STS Mission 32 after having remained in space for almost 6 years. Ongoing studies of this retrieved hardware are providing a wealth of basic science data on the environments of near-earth space and the synergistic effects of these space environments on a large array of typical spacecraft materials and systems.

Kinard, William H.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Initial results from Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) postretrieval observations

Initial postretrieval observations of the Long Duration Exposure Facility and the 57 onboard experiments are reported in this paper. These observations have revealed that the facility and experiments, which had remained in space for 68 months prior to being retrieved in January 1990, can be used to generate 'gage block' type data to verify the existing models of the low earth orbit environments and if necessary, the data to correct errors in these existing models. The LDEF observations can also be used to update and revise the existing models used by spacecraft designers to predict the effects of long exposures in these environments on spacecraft materials and components.

Kinard, William H.↗