Long-term observations of the particle environment surrounding the MSX spacecraft

Gary E. Galica; B. David Green; Mark T. Boies; Richard C. Benson; O. Manuel Uy; Jeffrey C. Lesho; Bob E. Wood; David F. Hall

doi:10.1117/12.400833

20 September 2000 Long-term observations of the particle environment surrounding the MSX spacecraft

Gary E. Galica, B. David Green, Mark T. Boies, Richard C. Benson, O. Manuel Uy, Jeffrey C. Lesho, Bob E. Wood, David F. Hall

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4096, Optical Systems Contamination and Degradation II: Effects, Measurements, and Control; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.400833
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2000, San Diego, CA, United States

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.

Citation Download Citation

Gary E. Galica, B. David Green, Mark T. Boies, Richard C. Benson, O. Manuel Uy, Jeffrey C. Lesho, Bob E. Wood, and David F. Hall "Long-term observations of the particle environment surrounding the MSX spacecraft", Proc. SPIE 4096, Optical Systems Contamination and Degradation II: Effects, Measurements, and Control, (20 September 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.400833

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