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At least 1,027 records · Page 57
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Thermal-Fluid and Thermal-Structural Response of the T-Tube Modular Divertor to Spatiotemporally Varying Heat Loads

Tungsten (W) is the leading candidate for divertor target plates because of its high melting point (>3000°C), thermal conductivity, and ultimate tensile stress. While W and its alloys are the only solid materials that can survive the high heat fluxes incident on the divertor, W’s low-ductility high ductile-to-brittle transition temperature of ~600°C and relatively low recrystallization temperature (RT) of ~1300°C pose structural (among other) challenges. The objective of this work is to estimate the thermal-fluid and thermal-structural performance of the helium (He)-cooled T-tube divertor, which was originally developed by the Advanced Reactor Innovation and Evaluation Study (ARIES) using numerical simulations. Here, predictions of temperature distributions across the plasma-facing structural component and surface pressures from computational fluid dynamics simulations are used to determine stress distributions using commercial structural finite element modeling software over a range of fusion-relevant conditions. The maximum allowable incident heat fluxes are determined based on the temperature limits imposed by the ITER elastic Structural Design Criteria for In-vessel Components (SDC-IC) and the maximum RT over a range of He mass flow rates and presented in the form of performance design charts. Our recent work found that thermal- structural criteria accounting for the low ductility of W in a finger-type modular divertor constrain the maximum incident heat fluxes to values well below the ITER specifications, and those based on considering only the RT demonstrate that integrated thermal-fluid and elastic structural performance evaluation are required for accurate assessment of divertor performance. This novel analysis of the T-tube considers how nonuniform and transient incident heat fluxes affect its thermal-fluid and thermal-structural performance, as well as the effect of volumetric heating, which can be as great as 27% of the power incident on the divertor surface. The W tile of the T-tube, with its relatively large plasma-facing area of ~15 cm 2 , will likely experience significant spatial variations in incident heat flux. This work therefore assesses whether steady-state incident heat flux profiles with a peak of 10 MW/m 2 and maximum heat flux gradients of 200 MW/m 2 per m exceed the structural limits imposed by the ITER elastic SDC-IC and the maximum RT over a range of fusion-relevant conditions. The effect of transient heat fluxes typical of plasma detachment and reattachment from the target plate due, for example, to gas injection are also evaluated

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Impact of Thermal Scattering Law on Similarity Assessment in Light-Water or Polyethylene-Moderated Systems [Slides]

This presentation found validation efforts revealed noticeable differences in c k for light-water and polyethylene moderated systems when compared to PST-002-001. Additionally, although 1 H-H 2 O and 1 H-poly use the same cross section and covariance data, the treatment of TSLs in SCALE lead to no contribution to ck between polyethylene application and benchmark experiment. When H 2 O contribution were removed the difference in c k appears to come from 239 Pu chi. Sensitivity profiles and data-induced uncertainty confirmed that the polyethylene application was more closely resembling the benchmark experiment. Specific differences between similar systems can be accounted for and examined to help understand differences in similarity (c k ) between systems was a conclusion reached by this presentation.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Constraining hydrodynamic models of inertial confinement fusion implosions using capsule surrogate experiments

We conduct capsule surrogate experiments at the National Ignition Facility to calibrate radiation hydrodynamic simulations to infer hydrodynamic conditions that are not observable in indirect drive ignition implosions. We tune the simulations by applying laser power and cross beam energy transfer (CBET) saturation multipliers to match the observables from capsule surrogate experiments. Shock timing, velocity, and symmetry are measured in liquid D 2 filled Keyhole capsule surrogate experiments and implosion trajectory, stagnation time, and shape time history are measured in in-flight 2D backlit x-ray radiography experiments (“2DConA”) of D 2 gas filled capsule implosions. Calibrated simulations suggest that the N210808 ignition implosion (fusion target gain = 0.7) had a shell mass remaining at stagnation of less than the nominal %5 (3.8%) and resulted in less confinement. For N221204, the shell was made 5.75 μm thicker to trade implosion velocity for increased confinement and resulted in a target gain = 1.5 with a shell mass remaining of 5.7%. Furthermore, a single adjusted model can reproduce all shock timing data as changes are made to shell thickness (79–85 μm) and laser wavelength separation (1.8–4.0 Å). However, for the 2DConA implosions, a 5% variation in the peak power laser multipliers and a 30% variation in late-time CBET between experiments are needed to match the observed stagnation times, in-flight $P_2$ shape, and hot-spot $P_2$ shape. While progress is being made to improve the models in simulations using focused experiments, capsule surrogate experiments will continue to be needed to optimize future ignition designs.

Lasers↗
NASA NTRS1983

S-band SBAW microwave source, phase 2

Results of aging experiments on 1.072 GHz SBAW oscillators are discussed as well as the design, fabrication and test of 2.143 GHz SBAW delay lines. Two design approaches were implemented. The third harmonic transducer on 36 deg rotated Y cut quartz proved to be the most useful design, whereas the fifth harmonic transducer on - 50 5 deg rotated Y cut quartz suffered from high insertion loss and poor sidelobe rejection. The construction and characterization of the 2 GHz SBAW oscillator are described. Phase noise, frequency dependence on temperature, and 6-month aging were measured. Some SAW and SBAW oscillators were compared as were both the 1 and 2 GHz oscillators. The 2 GHz SBAW oscillator showed significant improvement in phase noise and temperature stability over the 2 GHz SAW oscillator developed in previous NASA programs. A technique to produce SBAW delay lines of different frequencies from a single mask is examined. The delay lines were incorporated into oscillator circuits to demonstrate the ability to select the frequency output of the SBAW oscillator.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1977

ATS-6 solar cell experiment/improvement

ATS 6 solar cell flight experiment data through 2 years of synchronous orbit operation are presented. Comparisons are made of the performances of the 13 different types of solar cell/cover configurations, including new cover processes and materials, and the COMSAT violet cell. These performances are also compared to the performances of the LES 6 solar cell experiment, the ATS 6 main solar arrays, and the Hughes Aircraft Company solar arrays, and to laboratory spectrum electron irradiations. It was found that the cells of the ATS 6 experiment generally performed as expected through 6 to 9 months in orbit, but that at 2 years they were more severely degraded than expected.

Goldhammer, L. J.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Concurrent Measurement of O 2 Production and Isoprene Emission During Photosynthesis: Pros, Cons and Metabolic Implications of Responses to Light, CO 2 and Temperature

Traditional leaf gas exchange experiments have focused on net CO 2 exchange (A net ). Here, using California poplar (Populus trichocarpa), we coupled measurements of net oxygen production (NOP), isoprene emissions and δ 18 O in O 2 to traditional CO 2 /H 2 O gas exchange with chlorophyll fluorescence, and measured light, CO 2 and temperature response curves. This allowed us to obtain a comprehensive picture of the photosynthetic redox budget including electron transport rate (ETR) and estimates of the mean assimilatory quotient (AQ = A net /NOP). We found that A net and NOP were linearly correlated across environmental gradients with similar observed AQ values during light (1.25 ± 0.05) and CO 2 responses (1.23 ± 0.07). In contrast, AQ was suppressed during leaf temperature responses in the light (0.87 ± 0.28), potentially due to the acceleration of alternative ETR sinks like lipid synthesis. A net and NOP had an optimum temperature (Topt) of 31°C, while ETR and δ 18 O in O2 (35°C) and isoprene emissions (39°C) had distinctly higher T opt . The results confirm a tight connection between water oxidation and ETR and support a view of light-dependent lipid synthesis primarily driven by photosynthetic ATP/NADPH not consumed by the Calvin–Benson cycle, as an important thermotolerance mechanism linked with high rates of (photo)respiration and CO 2 /O 2 recycling.

H218O labelling↗
DOE OSTI2025

Machine Learning to Select Experiments Driven by Fundamental Science and Applications for Targeted Nuclear Data Improvement

This work describes a blueprint for a process that accelerates progress in science by quantitatively answering the following question: What is the optimal combination of fundamental-science and application-driven experiments to maximally reduce pertinent data uncertainties? Answering this question entails solving a high-dimensional and complex optimization problem that is best solved with advanced statistic techniques often classified as machine learning. We apply this process within the framework of nuclear data with the aim to select an experiment combination that will reduce uncertainties in 239 Pu nuclear data for neutron energies between 1 and 600 keV. In this field, fundamental-physics driven data, called differential, look at one nuclear physics observable at a time. They are contrasted to application-driven, integral, data where one or few resulting values inform a broad set of nuclear data across several nuclides and energies. The candidates for integral experiments are criticality measurements that were refined by a genetic algorithm to be maximally sensitive to 239 Pu fission cross sections in the desired energy range. Twenty-three candidate differential experiments were investigated and span multiple nuclear physics observables (e.g., total, capture cross sections) for isotopes appearing in the integral experiments. The optimal combination among these candidate experiments was investigated via generalized least squares fitting, augmented with Gaussian processes to ameliorate statistical irregularities in data, and the D-optimality criterion. The latter evaluates for each pair of candidates the joint reduction in uncertainties of all 12200 nuclear data appearing in the integral experiments compared to the knowledge we have from 168 past experiments, theory, and nuclear data. We chose as differential measurements those that investigate 63 Cu and 239 Pu total cross sections, based on D-optimality rank and feasibility constraints. Two integral (criticality) experiments were selected: An experiment with Al 2 ⁢O 3 and graphite interleaved with Pu and a thick Cu reflector explores 1–30 keV, while we target the 30–600 keV range with an experiment that swaps boron in place of graphite with a different geometry.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Re-establishment of Sandia National Labs super-critical carbon dioxide testing autoclave capability for exposure of metal alloys and polymers (Level 4 Milestone Report)

The sCO 2 system located in 916/160A, Sandia National Laboratories, CA, was constructed in 2014, for testing of materials in the presence of supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO 2 ) at high pressures (up to 3500 psi) and temperatures (up to 650°C). The basic design of the system consists of a thermally insulated IN625 autoclave, a high-pressure supercritical CO 2 compressor, autoclave heaters, temperature controllers, gas manifold, and temperature and pressure diagnostics. This system was modified in 2016 (sCO 2 compressor was removed) to enable corrosion studies with metal alloys in gaseous CO 2 at lower pressure (up to 300 psi) at 500°C. The capability was not used much afterwards until 2020, when preliminary tests using this capability (again without the supercritical CO 2 compressor) involved the exposure of fatigue and tensile specimens of HN 230 and 800H alloys to CO 2 gas for 168 hours in gaseous CO 2 . Using this capability, we finished experiments with low pressure (450 psi/ 3 MPa), high temperature (650°C) exposure of fatigue and tensile specimens of HN 230 and 800H alloys to CO 2 gas for 168 hours. The data from these experiments will be compared to that gathered from experiments performed in 2020 using the tube furnace and presented in a future report. It is to be noted that the tube furnace experiments ran 500-1500 hours, unlike the 168 hours of exposure in the recent experiment. This can help validate the use of the sCO 2 autoclave for both CO 2 and sCO 2 experiments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Investigating Similarity Differences for Light-Water-Moderated and Polyethylene-Moderated Systems [Slides]

Validation efforts revealed noticeable differences in c k for light-water and polyethylene moderated systems when compared to experimental systems. Although 1 H-H 2 O and 1 H-poly use some of the same cross section and identical covariance data, the treatment of TSLs in SCALE lead to no contribution to c k between polyethylene application and benchmark experiment. When H 2 O contribution is removed the difference in c k appears to come from 239 Pu chi. Sensitivity profiles and data-induced uncertainty confirm that the polyethylene application more closely resembles the benchmark experiment. Interrogation techniques were used to observe how TSLs and nuclide IDs affect c k . Specific differences between similar systems can be accounted for and examined to help understand differences in similarity (c k ) between systems

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Structural characterization of tin in toothpaste by dynamic nuclear polarization enhanced 119 Sn solid-state NMR spectroscopy

Stannous fluoride (SnF 2 ) is an effective fluoride source and antimicrobial agent that is widely used in commercial toothpaste formulations. The antimicrobial activity of SnF 2 is partly attributed to the presence of Sn(II) ions. However, it is challenging to directly determine the Sn speciation and oxidation state within commercially available toothpaste products due to the low weight loading of SnF 2 (0.454 wt% SnF 2 , 0.34 wt% Sn) and the amorphous, semi-solid nature of the toothpaste. Here, we show that dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) enables 119 Sn solid-state NMR experiments that can probe the Sn speciation within commercially available toothpaste. Solid-state NMR experiments on SnF 2 and SnF 4 show that 19 F isotropic chemical shift and 119 Sn chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) are highly sensitive to the Sn oxidation state. DNP-enhanced 119 Sn magic-angle turning (MAT) 2D NMR spectra of toothpastes resolve Sn(II) and Sn(IV) by their 119 Sn chemical shift tensor parameters. Fits of DNP-enhanced 1D 1 H → 119 Sn solid-state NMR spectra allow the populations of Sn(II) and Sn(IV) within the toothpastes to be estimated. This analysis reveals that three of the four commercially available toothpastes contained at least 80% Sn(II), whereas one of the toothpaste contained a significantly higher amount of Sn(IV).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1979

Improvement and extension of data from ATS-6 Solar Cell Radiation Damage Experiment (SCRDE)

The ATS 6 solar cell radiation damage experiment data through 2 1/3 years of synchronous orbit operation are presented. Comparisons are made of the performances of the 13 different types of solar cell/cover configurations, including solar cell and cover thickness variations, base resistivity variation, new cover processes and materials, and the COMSAT violet cell. These performances are also compared to the performance of the LES 6 solar cell experiment, the ATS 6 main solar arrays, and laboratory spectrum electron irradiations. It is found that the cells of the ATS 6 experiment generally performed as expected through 6 to 9 months in orbit, but that at 2 1/3 years they were severely degraded in current. The short circuit current degradation after 2 1/3 years in orbit appears to exhibit an anomalous additional degradation of 5 to 9 percent over what was experienced in synchronous orbit operation.

Goldhammer, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Satiation or availability? Effects of attention, memory, and imagery on the perception of ambiguous figures

The prolonged-inspection technique has been used to demonstrate effects of satiation on the perception of ambiguous figures. We propose that the inspection phase, in which subjects view an unambiguous version of the stimulus prior to observing the ambiguous figure, does not create neural fatigue but rather provides a context in which the alternative percept is apprehended and gains perceptual strength through processes such as imagination or memory. The consequent availability of the alternative organization drives the perceptual phenomena that have been thought to reflect satiation. In Experiment 1, we demonstrated that (1) preexperimental exposure to the target figures and (2) allocation of attention to the inspection figures were both necessary in order to obtain results similar to those predicted by the satiation model. In Experiment 2, we obtained similar results, finding that effects of prior inspection were greater the greater the amount and availability of information regarding the alternative percept during the inspection phase. Subjects who generated visual images of the noninspected alternative during inspection yielded results comparable to those from subjects to whom both versions were presented visually.

Horlitz, Krista L.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Counterintuitive Trend of Intrusion Pressure with Temperature in the Hydrophobic Cu 2 (tebpz) MOF

Liquid porosimetry experiments reveal a peculiar trend of the intrusion pressure of water in hydrophobic Cu 2 (3,3',5,5'-tetraethyl-4,4'-bipyrazolate) MOF. At lower temperature (T) range, the intrusion pressure (P i ) increases with T. For higher T values, P i first reaches a maximum and then decreases. This is at odds with the Young–Laplace law, which for systems showing a continuous decrease of contact angle with T predicts a corresponding reduction of the intrusion pressure. Though the Young–Laplace law is not expected to provide quantitative predictions at the subnanoscale of Cu 2 (tebpz) pores, the physical intuition suggests that to a reduction of their hydrophobicity corresponds a reduction of the P i . Molecular dynamics simulations and sychrothron experiments allowed to clarify the mechanism of the peculiar trend of P i with T. At increasing temperatures the vapor density within the MOF’ pores grows significantly, bringing the corresponding partial pressure to ≈5 MPa. This pressure, which is consistent with the shift of P i observed in liquid porosimetry, represents a threshold to be overcame before intrusion takes place. Beyond some value of temperature, the phenomenon of reduction of hydrophobicity (and water surface tension) dominated over the opposite effect of increase of vapor pressure and P i inverts its trend with T.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Control of wetting and uniformity via ZrSi x formation in ceramic-to-metal joints fabricated using Ag-Zr brazes

The deposition of a 2.0 µm SiO 2 film on the alumina surface in Kovar TM /94% alumina joints enables the formation of a silicide reaction layer on the alumina during brazing with 97Ag2Zr1Cu. Additionally, the average and standard deviation of joint thickness decrease from 50 to 15 and 29 to 4 µm, respectively compared to joints without added SiO 2 . Finally, the average failure stress of these braze joints was 45 MPa, while that of similar joints without added SiO 2 was 90 MPa. Sessile drop experiments of 98Ag2Zr on SiO 2 and 99.6% Al 2 O 3 substrates show that the braze wets and spreads to 3x its original area on SiO 2 with a wetting angle near 0°, but remains the same area on 99.6% Al 2 O 3 with a wetting angle of 106.6°. Focused-ion-beam scanning electron microscopy analysis of a cross-section of the 98Ag2Zr sessile drop on the SiO 2 substrate has shown that Zr reacts with SiO 2 to form Zr oxide and silicide layers. Scanning transmission electron microscopy diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis indicate this silicide layer contains tetragonal Zr 5 Si 4 . In conclusion, analysis shows the silicide layer enhances wetting and joint uniformity while unreacted SiO 2 embrittles the joint and degrades strength.

alumina↗
NASA NTRS1985

Importance of Gravity for Plant Growth and Behavior

Flight experiments on the importance of gravity to plant growth and behavior are reported. The following studies were undertaken: (1) hyperastic responses to incremental changes of an axially imposed centripetal force; (2) Spacelab-1 experiments, methods for preparing soil in flight hardware containers were impound, to ensure desired moisture content and minimal contamination probability; (3) mesocotyl growth patterns were established by Avena lore exposure to red light during early seedling outogency; (4) the development of flight hardware; (5) choice of member of seedlings in each cube; (6) data processing and reduction; (7) clinostat validation; circummutation in space was more vigorous than on Earth based clinostat.

Brown, A. H.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Cluster evolution and microwave source counts

We present the modeled counts for the expected Sunyaev-Zel'dovich microwave sources associated with clusters of galaxies, predicted for experiments with arcminute-scale spatial resolution, assuming self-similar cluster evolution, for different spectra of the primordial density fluctuations and values of the cosmological density parameter Omega. Our simulations show that the source counts should be a powerful test of the evolution of very high redshift clusters. Experiments with 1 - 2 min spatial resolution, with moderate sensitivity but covering a large area of the sky, would be most effective for studying the SZ source population. Recent arcminute-scale radio experiments, the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) RING experiment and VLA deep imaging, achieved sensitivity and sky coverage close to that needed for the detection of negative sources associated with very distant clusters. From the absence of cluster detections in these experiments, we rule out, with 90% confidence, models with Omega less than 0.3 and n = +1 as predicting too many bright sources; or there is no hot gas in clusters more distant than z(sub max) = 5 in such models. If the single negative source detected in the RING experiment is a distant cluster, the Omega = 1, n = -2 model also may be ruled out as it predicts too few sources. The new generation of telescopes, including the new SUZIE and Ryle instruments, will soon be able to detect distant clusters. The cluster population in the past has been modeled by scaling the observed present-day sample of X-ray clusters back to high redshifts, an approach which makes the best use of the observed cluster gas parameters, and makes the simulations robust to the assumed evolution at very early epochs. Although the pure self-similar model may be incompatible with the variety of observed evolutionary effects, we show that reasonable modifications to the intracluster gas history in that model, proposed to reconcile the self-similar evolution of cluster mass and the observed evolution of their X-ray luminosity, do not considerably change our microwave predictions made using the pure self-similar model. That is, the results of our simulations are applicable to the wide class of evolutionary models in which the cluster gas mass times gas temperature evolves as the dark mass times cluster virial temperature.

Markevitch, M.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Embedded Real-Time Linux for Instrument Control and Data Logging

When I moved to the west. coast to take a job at NASA's Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA, I was impressed with the variety of equipment and software which scientists at the center use to conduct their research. was happy to find that I was just as likely to see a machine running Lenox as one running Windows in the offices and laboratories of NASA Ames (although many people seem to use Moos around here). I was especially happy to find that the particular group with whom I was going to work, the Atmospheric Physics Branch at Ames, relied almost entirely on Lenox machines for their day-to-day work. So it was no surprise that when it was time to construct a new control system for one of their most important pieces of hardware, a switch from an unpredictable DOS-based platform to an Embedded Linux-based one was a decision easily made. The system I am working on is called the Solar Spectral Flux Radiometer (SSFR), a PC-104 based system custom-built by Dr. Warren Gore at Ames. Dr. Gore, Dr. Peter Pilewskie, Dr. Maura Robberies and Larry Pezzolo use the SSFR in their research. The team working on the controller project consists of Dr. Gore, John Pommier, and myself. The SSFR is used by the ,cities Atmospheric Radiation Group to measure solar spectral irradiance at moderate resolution to determine the radiative effect of clouds, aerosols, and gases on climate, and also to infer the physical properties of aerosols and clouds. Two identical SSFR's have been built and successfully deployed in three field missions: 1) the Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Enhanced Shortwave Experiment (ARESE) II in February/March, 2000; 2) the Puerto Rico Dust Experiment (PRIDE) in July, 2000; and 3) the South African Regional Science Initiative (SAFARI) in August/September, 2000. Additionally, the SSFR was used to acquire water vapor spectra using the Ames Diameter base-path multiple-reflection absorption cell in a laboratory experiment.

Clanton, Sam↗
NASA NTRS2013

The Komplast Experiment: Space Environmental Effects after 12 Years in LEO (and Counting)

The Komplast materials experiment was designed by the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, together with other Russian scientific institutes, and has been carried out by Mission Control Moscow since 18. Komplast panels fitted with material samples and sensors were located on the International Space Station (ISS) Functional Cargo Block (FGB) module exterior surface. Within the framework of this experiment, the purpose was to study the effect of the low earth orbit (LEO) environment on exposed samples of various materials. The panels were sent into orbit with the FGB when it launched on November 20, 1998. Panels #2 and #10 were retrieved during Russian extravehicular activity in February 2011 and sealed within cases to temporarily protect the samples from exposure to air until they could be studied on the ground. Panel #2 contained an experiment to detect micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) impacts, radiation and UV sensors, several pieces of electrical cable, and samples made from elastomeric and fluoroplastic materials. Panel #10 contained a temperature sensor, and both carbon composite and adhesive-bonded samples. A figure shows the location of panels #2 and #10 on the FGB module aft endcone. The panels were subsequently returned to Earth by Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-133/ULF-5 mission after 12 years of LEO exposure and opened in an argon chamber at the Institute of Nuclear Physics at Moscow State University in July 2011. Based on the results of analyzing the readings from sensors located on Komplast panels and in studying material samples from the panels, the comprehensive effect of spaceflight factors on the FGB (at the locations of Panels #2 and #10) was evaluated. Total solar exposure was determined to be 960 +/- 200 kJ/square cm or 21,000 equivalent solar hours. Because of location of these two panels and the ISS flight attitude, atomic oxygen (AO) fluence was relatively low for such a long duration exposure, approximately 1.5x10 (exp 21) O atoms/sq. cm. Most of the AO fluence occurred during the early phase of ISS assembly. Temperatures ranged from a maximum of 107 C to a minimum of -80 C. The MMOD environment was determined, as is shown. Interestingly, the distribution of craters and low-velocity impact particles observed in the 5-50 micron size range was approx 2-3 orders of magnitude higher than that predicted by the ORDEM2000 model of natural and artificial origin microparticles in the ISS orbit. Contamination observations were also made, through the evaluation of optical properties on thermal control coatings and by the examination of visible deposits located near several samples on the panels, primarily from elastomeric samples. These elastomer samples were extensively investigated for their physical property changes and sealing capability. In addition, 16 samples of adhesive-bonded joints using three types of epoxy adhesive were evaluated studying fracture toughness, failure surface, and adhesive volume properties. Both rubber and adhesive-bonded specimens also underwent additional (post-flight) ground-based exposures to simulate a total 30 years in LEO prior to their evaluation. Overall, results indicate that space environmental effects will not adversely impact the service life of the FGB through 2028. Our investigation is complete and a summary of the results obtained from this uniquely long-duration exposure experiment will be presented.

Shaevich, S. K.↗