Engineering topics

Martin, Glenna D.

Publications and source records attributed to Martin, Glenna D..

3 records

NASA NTRS1992

Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) space environments overview

The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) was retrieved from Earth orbit in January 1990 after spending almost six years in space. It had flown in a near-circular orbit with an inclination of 28.5 degrees. Initially, the orbit altitude was approximately 257 nautical miles; however, when the LDEF was retrieved the orbit altitude had decayed to approximately 179 nautical miles. The LDEF was passively stabilized about three axes while in free flight, making it an ideal platform for exposing experiments which were measuring the environments of near-Earth space and investigating the long-term effects of these environments on spacecraft. A brief overview of the encountered environments that were of most interest to the LDEF investigators is presented.

Kinard, William H.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Degradation of materials properties in space-overview of LDEF (Long Duration Exposure Facility)

This paper presents an overview of the initial observations of the Long Duration Exposure Facility and, in particular, the degradation of the onboard materials. The LDEF was retrieved from space on January 12, 1990, during the Space Shuttle STS Mission 32 after having remained in space for almost 6 years. Ongoing studies of this retrieved hardware are providing a wealth of basic science data on the environments of near-earth space and the synergistic effects of these space environments on a large array of typical spacecraft materials and systems.

Kinard, William H.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Initial results from Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) postretrieval observations

Initial postretrieval observations of the Long Duration Exposure Facility and the 57 onboard experiments are reported in this paper. These observations have revealed that the facility and experiments, which had remained in space for 68 months prior to being retrieved in January 1990, can be used to generate 'gage block' type data to verify the existing models of the low earth orbit environments and if necessary, the data to correct errors in these existing models. The LDEF observations can also be used to update and revise the existing models used by spacecraft designers to predict the effects of long exposures in these environments on spacecraft materials and components.

Kinard, William H.↗