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Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) Testing, Ballistic Limit Equation Definition and Risk Assessment of the Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU)

A well-known hazard associated with exposure to the space environment is the risk of failure due to an impact from a micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) particle. As NASA prepares to return astronauts to the moon with the Artemis program, the next generation of spacesuit is in development to support future extravehicular activities (EVAs.) An MMOD impact to the spacesuit is of great concern as a large leak could prevent an astronaut from safely reaching an airlock in time resulting in a loss of life. The exploration extravehicular mobility unit (xEMU) must meet MMOD requirements for multiple environments including those in low earth orbit (LEO) as well as the meteoroid and secondary lunar regolith ejecta environments found on the lunar surface. The subject of this paper is an internal xEMU configuration design developed by NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) personnel. This paper will expand on the hypervelocity impact (HVI) testing and ballistic limit equation (BLE) definition work that was partially presented at the 2nd International Orbital De-bris (IOC-II) Conference held in Sugar Land, TX in December 2023. The xEMU shares similarities with the legacy Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit that is currently used for ISS EVAs, however differences in the layup (e.g., materials, thicknesses, and layers) of the fabric environmental protection garment (EPG), portable life support system (xPLSS) and helmet required an extensive test program to determine ballistic performance. Over 100 hypervelocity impact (HVI) tests were performed by the NASA/JSC HVIT and White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) teams on the xEMU EPG, xPLSS and helmet to generate ballistic limit equations (BLEs) for MMOD impacts. Additionally, over 50 low speed tests (< 1km/s) were performed by the NASA/JSC HVIT and Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) teams on the xEMU EPG, xPLSS and helmet to generate BLEs for lunar ejecta impacts. Post testing, ballistic limit equations used to define the performance of the various regions on the xEMU spacesuit were developed from a generic set of BLEs. The HVI and low speed testing was performed to establish a physical basis for the equations with the co-efficients and exponents of the generic BLEs adjusted to fit the test data. The xEMU BLEs were added to the NASA/JSC software application used for space-craft MMOD risk assessments (BUMPER-3). A finite element model (FEM) of the xEMU spacesuit, which defines the size and shape of the spacesuit as well as the locations of the various shielding configurations, was created based on a solid model provided by the xEMU program office. Using the FEM file and added xEMU BLEs, BUMPER-3 assessments of the xEMU spacesuit for probability of no penetration (PNP) were performed. For the LEO assessment of a typical ISS EVA, the orbital debris and meteoroids environments were defined using the latest engineering models, ORDEM 3.2 and MEM-3 respectively. The lunar sur-face assessment again used the MEM-3 engineering model to define the meteoroid environ-ment along with the current released lunar surface ejecta model, NASA SP-8013 (developed during the Apollo Program). The Space Team in the Natural Environments Branch at Mar-shall Space Flight Center (MSFC) will soon release the new Lunar Meteoroid Ejecta Engineering Model (LMEEM), at which time the xEMU lunar surface EVA will be reassessed. Assessment of the MMOD risk for an 8-hour, 2-person EVA in both LEO and on the lunar surface showed that the xEMU spacesuit meets the program technical requirement of 1 in 2500 failure odds. Similar to the legacy EMU spacesuit, the majority of the MMOD risk (96% of the LEO EVA risk and 99% of the lunar surface EVA risk) is concentrated in regions of xEMU that are comprised primarily of softgoods (arms, legs, and gloves) rather than the hardgoods (xPLSS, hard upper torso and helmet).

Micrometeoroid↗

Dust on Mars: An Aeolian Threat to Human Exploration?

The NASA HEDS Program is duly concerned for human explorers regarding the potential hazard posed by the ubiquitous dust mantle on Mars. To evaluate properties of dust that could be hazardous to humans, the MPS 2001 Lander payload will include the Mars Environmental Compatibility Assessment (MECA) experiment. This includes optical and atomic-force microscopy to evaluate soil grains for shape and size, wet chemistry to evaluate toxic substances, electrometry to evaluate triboelectric charging, and test-material palets to evaluate electrostatic and magnetic adhesion, and the hardness/abrasiveness of soil grains; these experimental subcomponents are delivered samples by the camera-equipped robotic arm of the lander which will acquire material from depths of 0.5 to 1.0 m in the soil. Data returned by MECA will be of value to both the BEDS and planetary/astrobiology communities. Dust poses a threat to human exploration because the martian system does not hydrologically or chemically remove fine particles that are being continuously generated by thermal, aeolian, and colluvial weathering, and by volcanism and impact over billions of years. The dust is extremely fine-grained, in copious quantities, ubiquitous in distribution, continually mobile, and a source of poorly-grounded static charges -- a suite of characteristics posing a particulate and electrical threat to explorers and their equipment. Dust is mobilized on global and regional scales, but probably also unpredictably and violently at local scales by dust devils. The latter might be expected in great abundance owing to near surface atmospheric instability (dust devils were detected by Pathfinder during its brief lifetime). Preliminary laboratory experiments suggest that space-suit materials subjected to windblown dust may acquire a uniform, highly adhesive dust layer that is also highly cohesive laterally owing to electrostatic forces. This layer will obscure visibility through the helmet visor, penetrate joints and fabrics, change the thermal properties of the suit, and possibly affect electronic/electrical suit functions. It is paramount that future missions address the issue of interparticle forces, and in particular, the role played by ionizing radiation in affecting these forces on Mars.

Marshall, J.↗

Dust on Mars: An Aeolian Threat to Human Exploration?

The NASA HEDS Program is duly concerned for human explorers regarding the potential hazard posed by the ubiquitous dust mantle on Mars. To evaluate properties of dust that could be hazardous to humans, the NMS 2001 Lander payload will include the Mars Environmental Compatibility Assessment (MECA) experiment. This includes optical and atomic-force microscopy to evaluate soil grains for shape and size, wet chemistry to evaluate toxic substances, electrometry to evaluate triboelectric charging, and test-material palets to evaluate electrostatic and magnetic adhesion, and the hardness/abrasiveness of soil grains; these experimental subcomponents are delivered samples by the camera-equipped robotic arm of the lander which will acquire material from depths of 0.5 to 1.0 m in the soil. Data returned by MECA will be of value to both the hEDS and planetary/astrobiology communities. Dust poses a threat to human exploration because the martian system does not hydrologically or chemically remove fine particles that are being continuously generated by thermal, aeolian, and colluvial weathering, and by volcanism and impact over billions of years. The dust is extremely fine-grained, in copious quantities, ubiquitous in distribution, continually mobile, and a source of poorly-grounded static charges -- a suite of characteristics posing a particulate and electrical threat to explorers and their equipment. Dust is mobilized on global and regional scales, but probably also unpredictably and violently at local scales by dust devils. The latter might be expected in great abundance owing to near surface atmospheric instability (dust devils were detected by Pathfinder during its brief lifetime). Preliminary laboratory experiments suggest that space-suit materials subjected to windblown dust may acquire a uniform, highly adhesive dust layer that is also highly cohesive laterally owing to electrostatic forces. This layer will obscure visibility through the helmet visor, penetrate joints and fabrics, change the thermal properties of the suit, and possibly affect electronic/electrical suit functions. It is paramount that future missions address the issue of interparticle forces, and in particular, the role played by ionizing radiation in affecting these forces on Mars.

Marshall, J.↗

On The Development of Additive Construction Technologies for Application to Development of Lunar/Martian Surface Structures Using In-Situ Materials

For long-duration missions on other planetary bodies, the use of in-situ materials will become increasingly critical. As man's presence on these bodies expands, so must the breadth of the structures required to accommodate them including habitats, laboratories, berms, radiation shielding for natural radiation and surface reactors, garages, solar storm shelters, greenhouses, etc. Planetary surface structure manufacturing and assembly technologies that incorporate in-situ resources provide options for autonomous, affordable, pre-positioned environments with radiation shielding features and protection from micrometeorites, exhaust plume debris, and other hazards. This is important because gamma and particle radiation constitute a serious but reducible threat to long-term survival of human beings, electronics, and other materials in space environments. Also, it is anticipated that surface structures will constitute the primary mass element of lunar or Martian launch requirements. The ability to use in-situ materials to construct these structures will provide a benefit in the reduction of up-mass that would otherwise make long-term Moon or Mars structures cost prohibitive. The ability to fabricate structures in situ brings with it the ability to repair these structures, which allows for self-sufficiency necessary for long-duration habitation. Previously, under the auspices of the MSFC In Situ Fabrication and Repair (ISFR) project and more recently, under the joint MSFC/KSC Additive Construction with Mobile Emplacement (ACME) project, the MSFC Surface Structures Group has been developing materials and construction technologies to support future planetary habitats with in situ resources. One such technology, known as Contour Crafting (additive construction), is shown in Figure 1, along with a typical structure fabricated using this technology. This paper will present the results to date of these efforts, including development of novel nozzle concepts for advanced layer deposition using the Contour Crafting process. This process, conceived initially for rapid development of cementitious structures on Earth, also lends itself exceptionally well to the automated fabrication of planetary surface structures using minimally processed regolith as aggregate, and imported binder material or binders developed from in situ materials. This process has been used successfully in the fabrication of construction elements using lunar regolith simulant and Mars regolith simulant, both with various binder materials. These binder materials have resulted from extensive evaluation and include both "imported" binder materials that might be launched from Earth as well as some binder materials that can theoretically also be derived from existing regolith materials. They were chosen to 1) reduce penetrating radiation as much as possible, primarily with hydrogen-bearing polymers, 2) attempt to provide an air-tight structure, 3) sufficiently mix and adsorb to regolith grains for strength, 4) maximize tolerance to day-night thermal cycling, 5) possibly increase electrical conductivity to dissipate any accumulated static charge, and 6) ease their application on planetary surfaces (specifically, the accommodation of reduced atmosphere and lack of heat sinks). Some of these materials have been tested with respect to radiation mitigation, micrometeorite resistance, and resistance to larger, slower-traveling pieces of regolith impinging on the surface, simulating nearby launch and landing activities. Conceptual designs for a Continuous Feedstock Delivery/Mixing System (CFDMS) will also be presented and future planned activities will be discussed as well.

Werkheiser, Niki↗

Considerations for Isochronous Data Services over the Proximity-1 Space Link

Future mission concepts for robotic and human explorations will involve a high level of real time control/monitoring operations such as tele-operation for spacecraft rendezvous and surface mobile platforms carrying life-support equipments. The timely dissemination of voice, command, and real-time telemetry for monitoring and coordination purposes is critical for mission success. It is envisioned that future missions will require a network infrastructure capable of supporting isochronous data services. The CCSDS Proximity-1 Space Link Protocol1 could be used to carry isochronous traffic. This paper we will focus on the data link layer portion of the Proximity-1 protocol specification and analyze its jitter and performance for supporting isochronous applications. In particular we will focus on constrained scenarios where the protocol operates in full-duplex mode, carrying isochronous traffic in one direction and error-controlled traffic in the other direction. We analyze the impact of the strict priority scheme in Proximity-1 used to arbitrate channel access on the latency jitter of the isochronous traffic and the efficiency of the reliable data transfer. In general, jitter performance is driven by the loading of the acknowledgement traffic on the forward link. Under light loading condition, the upper-bound of the delay jitter is the transmission duration of an acknowledgement frame on the forward link; for higher loading scenarios, the maximum jitter is scaled up by the inverse of the residual bandwidth, i.e., the spare capacity available in the forward link after accounting for the acknowledgement traffic. We derive analytical expression on the maximum jitter and discuss its performance.

space link↗

Enhanced erythrocyte suspension layer stability achieved by surface tension lowering additives

In connection with a fractionation procedure involving the separation of particles, a dilute suspension of these particles in a liquid is carefully layered on a dense liquid. Under ideal conditions, the suspension forms a zone of finite thickness with a 'sharp' interface between the suspension layer and the supporting liquid. Under an applied field, e.g., gravitational or electrical, the particles in the suspension layer migrate to form different layers according to their size and/or density or according to their electrophoretic mobilities. However, in many cases the ideal conditions necessary for the fractionation process are not obtained. Many studies have been conducted to explore the reasons for suspension layer 'instability'. The present investigation represents an extension of a study conducted by Omenyi et al. (1981). An electrostatic repulsion-van der Waals mechanism was used to study the stability of fixed erythrocyte suspensions layered on a D2O cushion.

Omenyi, S. N.↗

TPSAS-NF1676L-10819-DND

Additional aerodynamic data for the benchmark configuration of partially-dressed cavity-closed nose landing gear (PDCC-NLG), obtained at a flow Mach number of 0.166, are provided in this presentation. A detailed account of the unsteady surface pressure fluctuations acquired with a Kulite transducer designed to be mobile is also given. The roving nature of the transducer allowed the sensor to be placed at numerous locations where high-amplitude pressure fluctuations are expected. The measured surface pressure spectra are mainly broadband in nature, lacking any local peaks associated with coherent vortex shedding. This finding is in agreement with off-surface flow measurements based on particle image velocimetry, which revealed the flow field to be a collection of separated shear layers without any dominant vortex shedding processes.

Mehdi R Khorrami↗

TPSAS-NF1676L-10756-DND

Additional aerodynamic data for the benchmark configuration of partially-dressed cavity-closed nose landing gear (PDCC-NLG), obtained at a flow Mach number of 0.166, are provided in this presentation. A detailed account of the unsteady surface pressure fluctuations acquired with a Kulite transducer designed to be mobile is also given. The roving nature of the transducer allowed the sensor to be placed at numerous locations where high-amplitude pressure fluctuations are expected. The measured surface pressure spectra are mainly broadband in nature, lacking any local peaks associated with coherent vortex shedding. This finding is in agreement with off-surface flow measurements based on particle image velocimetry, which revealed the flow field to be a collection of separated shear layers without any dominant vortex shedding processes.

Mehdi R Khorrami↗

High Tech Art: Chameleon Glass

Dichroic Glass is a technology wherein extremely thin films of metal are vacuum deposited on a glass surface. The coated glass shields spacecraft instruments from cosmic radiation and protects human vision from unfiltered sunlight in space. Because the coating process allows some wavelengths of light and color to reflect and others to pass through, a chameleon effect is produced. Murray Schwartz, a former aerospace engineer, has based his business KROMA on this NASA optical technology. He produces dichroic stained glass windows, mobiles and jewelry. The technique involves deposition of super thin layers of metal oxides applied one layer at a time in a specific order and thickness for the desired effect. His product line is unique and has been very successful.

Source record↗

Chemistry of Martian Soils from the Mars Exploration Rover APXS Instruments

The martian surface is covered with debris formed by several mechanisms and mobilized by various processes. Volcanism, impact, physical weathering and chemical alteration combine to produce particles of sizes from dust to boulders composed of primary mineral and rock fragments, partially altered primary materials, alteration minerals and shock-modified materials from all of these. Impacts and volcanism produce localized deposits. Winds transport roughly sand-sized material over intermediate distances, while periodic dust storms deposit a global dust layer of the finest fraction. The compositions of clastic sediments can be used to evaluate regional differences in crustal composition and/or weathering processes. Here we examine the growing body of chemical data on soils in Gusev crater and Meridiani Planum returned by the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) instruments on the rovers Spirit (MERA) and Opportunity (MERB), following on earlier results based on smaller data sets [1-4].

Mittlefehldt, D. W.↗

Remote sensing of soil moisture content over bare fields at 1.4 GHz frequency

A simple method of estimating moisture content (W) of a bare soil from the observed brightness temperature (T sub B) at 1.4 GHz is discussed. The method is based on a radiative transfer model calculation, which has been successfully used in the past to account for many observational results, with some modifications to take into account the effect of surface roughness. Besides the measured T sub B's, the three additional inputs required by the method are the effective soil thermodynamic temperature, the precise relation between W and the smooth field brightness temperature T sub B and a parameter specifying the surface roughness characteristics. The soil effective temperature can be readily measured and the procedures of estimating surface roughness parameter and obtaining the relation between W and smooth field brightness temperature are discussed in detail. Dual polarized radiometric measurements at an off-nadir incident angle are sufficient to estimate both surface roughness parameter and W, provided that the relation between W and smooth field brightness temperature at the same angle is known. The method of W estimate is demonstrated with two sets of experimental data, one from a controlled field experiment by a mobile tower and the other, from aircraft overflight. The results from both data sets are encouraging when the estimated W's are compared with the acquired ground truth of W's in the top 2 cm layer. An offset between the estimated and the measured W's exists in the results of the analyses, but that can be accounted for by the presently poor knowledge of the relationship between W and smooth field brightness temperature for various types of soils. An approach to quantify this relationship for different soils and thus improve the method of W estimate is suggested.

Wang, J. R.↗

A study of efficiency in low resistivity silicon solar cells

A general device-analysis program has been utilized to study the efficiency of silicon solar cells. The analysis is applied to specific geometries of both n(+)-p and n(+)-p-p(+) solar cells, and involves a numerical solution of the basic transport and continuity equations. This approach allows solutions that are free of typical limiting assumptions involved in solving the device equations as well as solutions relating to lifetime, mobility variations, and diffused-region profiles. The analysis includes available empirical information on diffusion length, mobility, and lifetime as a function of doping, as well as a Gaussian profile for the diffused region. Results are presented which illustrate the limitations of efficiency as a function of doping. It is found that the maximum efficiencies for both types of cell converge at lower resistivities to around 16% with air-mass-zero radiation and a single-layer absorbing-SiO antireflecting film. It is also found that the minority-carrier lifetime, both in the n(+) surface and p-type bulk regions, presents serious limitations to conversion efficiency, particularly in the low-resistivity cells.

Dunbar, P. M.↗

Meridiani Planum Hematite Deposit: Potential for Preservation of Microfossils

Christensen et al., using data from the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES), have identified gray crystalline hematite in a 350 km by 750 km region near Meridiani Planum. The deposit corresponds closely to the low-albedo highlands unit sm, mapped as a wind-eroded, ancient, subaqueous sedimentary deposit. Christensen et al. interpreted the Meridiani Planum deposit to be an in-place, rock-stratigraphic sedimentary unit characterized by smooth, friable layers composed primarily of basaltic sediments with approximately 10 to 15% crystalline gray hematite. The Meridiani Planum hematite deposit has recently been designated as the prime landing site for one of the two Mars Exploration Rover (MER) spacecraft. The MER landings are scheduled for January, 2004. Christensen et al. discussed five possible mechanisms for the formation of this deposit: direct precipitation from standing, oxygenated, Fe-rich water; precipitation from Fe-rich hydrothermal fluids; low-temperature dissolution and precipitation through mobile groundwater leaching; surface weathering and coatings; thermal oxidation of magnetite-rich lavas. Four of these mechanisms involve the interactions of rock with water, and thus have implications in the search for evidence of microbial life.

C C Allen↗

SMART Ground-based Radiation Measurements during PRIDE

We deployed a suite of ground-based remote sensing instruments - SMART (Surface Measurements for Atmospheric Radiative Transfer), at the Roosevelt Road Naval Station in Puerto Rico during the Puerto Rico Dust Experiment (PRIDE). The instruments include several solar and infrared broadband radiometers, a sunphotometer, a shadow-band radiometer, a micro-pulse lidar, a total-sky imager, a microwave radiometer, and two solar spectrometers. These radiometers were set up on a mobile platform and a solar tracker. During 27 June - 23 July, about 25 days of data were acquired under partially cloudy sky conditions. The diurnal air temperature was fluctuating around 28.6 C to within a few degrees. Daytime average of solar irradiance reaching at the surface was ranged from about 400 W/sq m on a rainy day to about 640 W/sq m on a cloud-free day. The infrared irradiance at the surface during the measurement period was averaged about 408 W/sq m. The heights of boundary layer, dusts and clouds were captured by lidar images. Based on sunphotometer and shadow-band radiometer retrievals, the aerosol optical thickness varied from below 0.1 to over 0.6. Combining with radiative transfer modeling and other in-situ and remote sensing measurements, our ground-based measurements provide vital information on understanding the long-range transport of African dust into the Caribbean.

Tsay, Si-Chee↗

Concentric crater fill on Mars - An aeolian alternative to ice-rich mass wasting

Concentric crater fill, a distinctive martian landform represented by a concentric pattern of surface undulations confined within a crater rim, has been interpreted as an example of ice-enhanced regolith creep at midlatitudes (e.g., Squyres and Carr, 1986). Theoretical constraints on the stability and mobility of ground ice limit the applicability of an ice-rich soil in effectively mobilizing downslope movement at latitudes poleward of + or - 30 deg, where concentric crater fill is observed. High-resolution images of concentric crater fill material in the Utopia Planitia region (45 deg N, 271 deg W) show it to be an eroded, multiple-layer deposit. Layering should not be preserved if the crater fill material moved by slow deformation throughout its thickness, as envisioned in the ice-enhanced creep model. Multiple layers are also exposed in the plains material surrounding the craters, indicating a recurrent depositional process that was at least regional in extent. Mantling layers are observed in high-resolution images of many other locations around Mars, suggesting that deposition occurred on a global scale and was not limited to the Utopia Planitia region. It is suggested that an aeolian interpretation for the origin and modification of concentric crater fill material is most consistent with morphologic and theoretical constraints.

Zimbelman, J. R.↗

The Impacts of Microphysics and Planetary Boundary Layer Physics on Model Simulations of U.S. Deep South Summer Convection

Convection-allowing numerical weather simula- tions have often been shown to produce convective storms that have significant sensitivity to choices of model physical parameterizations. Among the most important of these sensitivities are those related to cloud microphysics, but planetary boundary layer parameterizations also have a significant impact on the evolution of the convection. Aspects of the simulated convection that display sensitivity to these physics schemes include updraft size and intensity, simulated radar reflectivity, timing and placement of storm initi- ation and decay, total storm rainfall, and other storm features derived from storm structure and hydrometeor fields, such as predicted lightning flash rates. In addition to the basic parameters listed above, the simulated storms may also exhibit sensitivity to im- posed initial conditions, such as the fields of soil temper- ature and moisture, vegetation cover and health, and sea and lake water surface temperatures. Some of these sensitivities may rival those of the basic physics sensi- tivities mentioned earlier. These sensitivities have the potential to disrupt the accuracy of short-term forecast simulations of convective storms, and thereby pose sig- nificant difficulties for weather forecasters. To make a systematic study of the quantitative impacts of each of these sensitivities, a matrix of simulations has been performed using all combinations of eight separate microphysics schemes, three boundary layer schemes, and two sets of initial conditions. The first version of initial conditions consists of the default data from large-scale operational model fields, while the second features specialized higher- resolution soil conditions, vegetation conditions and water surface temperatures derived from datasets created at NASA's Short-term Prediction and Operational Research Tran- sition (SPoRT) Center at the National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) in Huntsville, AL. Simulations as outlined above, each 48 in number, were conducted for five midsummer weakly sheared coastal convective events each at two sites, Mobile, AL (MOB) and Houston, TX (HGX). Of special interest to operational forecasters at MOB and HGX were accuracy of timing and placement of convective storm initiation, reflectivity magnitudes and coverage, rainfall and inferred lightning threat.

McCaul, Eugene W., Jr.↗

Properties of GaN grown on sapphire substrates

Epitaxial growth of GaN on sapphire substrates using an open-tube growth furnace has been carried out to study the effects of substrate orientation and transfer gas upon the properties of the layers. It has been found that for the (0001) substrates, surface appearance was virtually independent of carrier gas and of doping levels. For the (1(-1)02) substrates surface faceting was greatly reduced when He was used as a transfer gas as opposed to H2. Faceting was also reduced when the GaN was doped with Zn, and the best surfaces for the (1(-1)02) substrates were obtained in a Zn-doped run using He as the transfer gas. The best sample in terms of electrical properties for the (1(-1)02) substrate had a mobility greater than 400 sq cm/V per sec and a carrier concentration of about 10 to the 17th per cu cm. This sample was undoped and used He as the transfer gas. The best (0001) sample was also grown undoped with He as the transfer gas and had a mobility of 300 sq cm/V per sec and a carrier concentration of 1 x 10 to the 18th per cu cm.

Crouch, R. K.↗

Rare gases in etched 10084 ilmenite - A search for trapped solar-flare rare gases

Results are presented of rare-gas analyses of 10084 ilmenite samples which have been etched to depths of about 1 micrometer in an attempt to remove the surface layer of trapped solar-wind gases, thereby allowing detection of the more deeply implanted solar-flare ions in the remaining trapped gases. A tendency found for the Ne-20/Ne-22 ratios in the etched ilmenite to reflect the solar-wind ratio measured in the solar-wind composition experiment foils may represent a cancellation of mass-fractionation effects. The Ne-20/Ne-22 ratio in the saturated layer is lowered with respect to the solar wind by preferential diffusive loss, but is raised again in the gas diffusing inward by the same preferential mobilization of Ne-20 relative to Ne-22. Attention is also given to the significance of the findings in the case of argon, krypton, and xenon.

Leich, D. A.↗