Long-term observations of the particle environment surrounding the MSX spacecraft
Abstract
We present a summary of the particle environment surrounding the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) satellite after 32 months on orbit, including two discrete particle releases produced by micrometeoroid or debris impact. We report on the characteristics of that environment, including particle occurrence rates, velocities, size distributions and trends in the environment. To our knowledge, the long term particle contamination observations that we have made on MSX are the first of their kind. The particle occurrence rate decreased steadily during the first year on orbit, but then remained at a constant level after 32 months on orbit. Our estimate of the total number of particles on the spacecraft surfaces at launch. We conclude that environmental effects such as UV, radiation, thermal cycling, and micrometeoroid impacts are a significant and continuing source of particles on orbit.
- Publication:
-
Optical Systems Contamination and Degradation II: Effects, Measurements, and Control
- Pub Date:
- September 2000
- DOI:
- 10.1117/12.400833
- Bibcode:
- 2000SPIE.4096...21G