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LDEF Impact Debris Analysis
Jessberger E. K. and Stadermann F. J. (1991) Study
Report, European Space Agency/ESTEC, No. PO 110543, 44
pp.
ABSTRACT
The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) was placed
into orbit in April 1984 and was retrieved in January 1990.
On board this 10m-long, nearly cylindrical satellite were 57
space experiments, designed to gather scientific data and to
test the effects of long-term space exposure on spacecraft
materials, components, and systems. Among the most
noticeable effects of the space environment on spacecrafts
is the permanent bombardment by small particles with speeds
of several km/s. These particles can be of natural origin
(micrometeoroids) or can be man-made (orbital debris). Both
types of material have distinct physical and chemical
properties, which makes it possible to estimate the relative
contribution of either type to the total particle flux by
analyzing impact debris on LDEF surfaces. This study
attempts to answer the following questions: What is the
chemical composition of matter which had impacted on
surfaces of the LDEF satellite? What does the chemical
composition tell us about the origin of this material?
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