Accession Number:

ADB031188

Title:

ML-101 Thermal Control Coatings: Five Year Space Exposure.

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. Oct 72-Oct 77,

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE MATERIALS LAB WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OHIO

Personal Author(s):

• Winn,Robert A.

Report Date:

1978-07-01

Pagination or Media Count:

46.0

Abstract:

This report presents the results of a thermal control coatings experiment on the Air Force P72-1 satellite which was launched into a low earth polar orbit in October 1972. The objectives of this experiment were to measure the amount of degradation of experimental thermal control coatings after exposure to the space environment and to correlate these results with those of exposure for the same coatings measured in a laboratory space simulation chamber. Data during five years of space exposure more than 26,000 revolutions of the satellite show that all coatings degraded more than expected. Most of this degradation probably was due to contamination.

Descriptors:

• *Protective coatings
• *Thermal insulation
• *Spacecraft
• Exposure(General)
• Low orbit trajectories
• Earth orbits
• Polar orbit trajectories
• Thermal degradation
• Simulators
• Laboratory equipment
• Solar radiation
• Reflectors
• Silicones
• Aluminum oxides
• Artificial satellites

Subject Categories:

• Coatings, Colorants and Finishes
• Thermodynamics
• Unmanned Spacecraft

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE