Results for “MISSE”

DOE OSTI2025

miss-SNF: a multimodal patient similarity network integration approach to handle completely missing data sources

Abstract Motivation Precision medicine leverages patient-specific multimodal data to improve prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of diseases. Advancing precision medicine requires the non-trivial integration of complex, heterogeneous, and potentially high-dimensional data sources, such as multi-omics and clinical data. In the literature, several approaches have been proposed to manage missing data, but are usually limited to the recovery of subsets of features for a subset of patients. A largely overlooked problem is the integration of multiple sources of data when one or more of them are completely missing for a subset of patients, a relatively common condition in clinical practice. Results We propose miss-Similarity Network Fusion (miss-SNF), a novel general-purpose data integration approach designed to manage completely missing data in the context of patient similarity networks. miss-SNF integrates incomplete unimodal patient similarity networks by leveraging a non-linear message-passing strategy borrowed from the SNF algorithm. miss-SNF is able to recover missing patient similarities and is “task agnostic”, in the sense that can integrate partial data for both unsupervised and supervised prediction tasks. Experimental analyses on nine cancer datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) demonstrate that miss-SNF achieves state-of-the-art results in recovering similarities and in identifying patients subgroups enriched in clinically relevant variables and having differential survival. Moreover, amputation experiments show that miss-SNF supervised prediction of cancer clinical outcomes and Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis with completely missing data achieves results comparable to those obtained when all the data are available. Availability and implementation miss-SNF code, implemented in R, is available at https://github.com/AnacletoLAB/missSNF.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology↗

NASA NTRS2009

Testing of NASA LaRC Materials under MISSE 6 and MISSE 7 Missions

The objective of the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) is to study the performance of novel materials when subjected to the synergistic effects of the harsh space environment for several months. MISSE missions provide an opportunity for developing space qualifiable materials. Two lasers and a few optical components from NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) were included in the MISSE 6 mission for long term exposure. MISSE 6 items were characterized and packed inside a ruggedized Passive Experiment Container (PEC) that resembles a suitcase. The PEC was tested for survivability due to launch conditions. MISSE 6 was transported to the international Space Station (ISS) via STS 123 on March 11. 2008. The astronauts successfully attached the PEC to external handrails of the ISS and opened the PEC for long term exposure to the space environment. The current plan is to bring the MISSE 6 PEC back to the Earth via STS 128 mission scheduled for launch in August 2009. Currently, preparations for launching the MISSE 7 mission are progressing. Laser and lidar components assembled on a flight-worthy platform are included from NASA LaRC. MISSE 7 launch is scheduled to be launched on STS 129 mission. This paper will briefly review recent efforts on MISSE 6 and MISSE 7 missions at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC).

Prasad, Narasimha S.↗

NASA NTRS2017

The MISSE-9 Polymers and Composites Experiment Being Flown on the MISSE-Flight Facility

Materials on the exterior of spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO) are subject to extremely harsh environmental conditions, including various forms of radiation (cosmic rays, ultraviolet, x-ray, and charged particle radiation), micrometeoroids and orbital debris, temperature extremes, thermal cycling, and atomic oxygen (AO). These environmental exposures can result in erosion, embrittlement and optical property degradation of susceptible materials, threatening spacecraft performance and durability. To increase our understanding of space environmental effects such as AO erosion and radiation induced embrittlement of spacecraft materials, NASA Glenn has developed a series of experiments flown as part of the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) missions on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS). These experiments have provided critical LEO space environment durability data such as AO erosion yield values for many materials and mechanical properties changes after long term space exposure. In continuing these studies, a new Glenn experiment has been proposed, and accepted, for flight on the new MISSE-Flight Facility (MISSE-FF). This experiment is called the Polymers and Composites Experiment and it will be flown as part of the MISSE-9 mission, the inaugural mission of MISSE-FF. Figure 1 provides an artist rendition of MISSE-FF ISS external platform. The MISSE-FF is manifested for launch on SpaceX-13.

De Groh, Kim K.↗

NASA NTRS2008

Estimated Environmental Exposures for MISSE-3 and MISSE-4

Both modeling techniques and a variety of measurements and observations were used to characterize the environmental conditions experienced by the specimens flown on the MISSE-3 (Materials International Space Station Experiment) and MISSE-4 space flight experiments. On August 3, 2006, astronauts Jeff Williams and Thomas Reiter attached MISSE-3 and -4 to the Quest airlock on ISS, where these experiments were exposed to atomic oxygen (AO), ultraviolet (UV) radiation, particulate radiation, thermal cycling, meteoroid/space debris impact, and the induced environment of an active space station. They had been flown to ISS during the July 2006 STS-121 mission. The two suitcases were oriented so that one side faced the ram direction and one side remained shielded from the atomic oxygen. On August 18,2007, astronauts Clay Anderson and Dave Williams retrieved MISSE-3 and-4 and returned them to Earth at the end of the STS-118 mission. Quantitative values are provided when possible for selected environmental factors. A meteoroid/debris impact survey was performed prior to de-integration at Langley Research Center. AO fluences were calculated based on mass loss and thickness loss of thin polymeric films of known AO reactivity. Radiation was measured with thermoluminescent detectors. Visual inspections under ambient and "black-light" at NASA LaRC, together with optical measurements on selected specimens, were the basis for the initial contamination level assessment.

Pippin, Gary↗

NASA NTRS2008

Estimated Environmental Exposures for MISSE-3 and MISSE-4

Describes the estimated environmental exposure for MISSE-2 and MISSE-4. These test beds, attached to the outside of the International Space Station, were planned for 3 years of exposure. This was changed to 1 year after MISSE-1 and -2 were in space for 4 years. MISSE-3 and -4 operate in a low Earth orbit space environment, which exposes them to a variety of assaults including atomic oxygen, ultraviolet radiation, particulate radiation, thermal cycling, and meteoroid/space debris impact, as well as contamination associated with proximity to an active space station. Measurements and determinations of atomic oxygen fluences, solar UV exposure levels, molecular contamination levels, and particulate radiation are included.

Finckenor, Miria M.↗

NASA NTRS2006

Results from Optical Coatings Flown on MISSE-1 and MISSE-2 and other Flight Experiments

Selected optically transparent materials and coatings flown on a number of low Earth orbit (LEO) materials flight experiments will be reviewed and discussed. Effects of flight exposure for both magnesium fluoride and lithium fluoride specimens will be presented. Individual specimens of magnesium fluoride were flown on the EOIM I11 Space Shuttle experiment, the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF), the Optical Properties Monitor and Passive Optical Sample Assembly experiments on Mir, and MISSE-1 and MISSE-2 International Space Station packages. Subsequent to the LDEF retrieval and EOIM I11 experiment in 1992, the question of atomic oxygen reaction with magnesium fluoride was raised. Atomic oxygen and solar exposures, molecular contamination levels, and varying exposure durations will each be considered in evaluating any observed changes in optical properties. A comparison of the thermodynamics of oxidation of magnesium fluoride and lithium fluoride will be summarized. Elemental composition as a function of depth, as determined using XPS, will be discussed for selected specimens, to gain insight into reactions that are thermodynamically allowed under the LEO conditions.

Finckenor, Miria↗

NASA NTRS2023

Space Environmental Effects on Additively Manufactured Materials – Results from MISSE-9 and MISSE-10

The NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Space Environmental Effects (SEE) and Contamination Control (CC) teams prepared and characterized MISSE-9 and MISSE-10’s additively manufactured (AM) materials samples to investigate the effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, thermal cycling, outgassing, and temperature and provide data on the durability of these samples. Materials studied were polyetherimide (Ultem 1010 and 9085), electrostatic dissipative polyetherketoneketone (ESD-PEKK), also known commercially as Antero 840CN03, polycarbonate biocompatible per ISO 10993 USP Class VI (PC-ISO), and Inconel 718. Some samples were manufactured at MSFC, while 3D printer manufacturers Stratasys and Made In Space, Inc. (MIS) (now Redwire) participated in this effort to compare different vendors and printing setups. Results from nondestructive analyses and tensile testing are presented.

additive manufacturing↗

NASA NTRS2008

Analysis of International Space Station Materials on MISSE-3 and MISSE-4

For high-temperature applications (> 2,000 C) such as solid rocket motors, hypersonic aircraft, nuclear electric/thermal propulsion for spacecraft, and more efficient jet engines, creep becomes one of the most important design factors to be considered. Conventional creep-testing methods, where the specimen and test apparatus are in contact with each other, are limited to temperatures ~1,700 deg. C. Development of alloys for higher-temperature applications is limited by the availability of testing methods at temperatures above 2000 C. Development of alloys for applications requiring a long service life at temperatures as low as 1500 C, such as the next generation of jet turbine superalloys, is limited by the difficulty of accelerated testing at temperatures above 1700 0c. For these reasons, a new, non-contact creep-measurement technique is needed for higher temperature applications. A new non-contact method for creep measurements of ultra-high-temperature metals and ceramics has been developed and validated. Using the electrostatic levitation (ESL) facility at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, a spherical sample is rotated quickly enough to cause creep deformation due to centrifugal acceleration. Very accurate measurement of the deformed shape through digital image analysis allows the stress exponent n to be determined very precisely from a single test, rather than from numerous conventional tests. Validation tests on single-crystal niobium spheres showed excellent agreement with conventional tests at 1985 C; however the non-contact method provides much greater precision while using only about 40 milligrams of material. This method is being applied to materials including metals and ceramics for noneroding throats in solid rockets and next-generation superalloys for turbine engines. Recent advances in the method and the current state of these new measurements will be presented.

Finckenor, Miria M.↗

NASA NTRS2018

Atomic Oxygen Interactions and the Design of MISSE-9 and MISSE-10 Experiments

Spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO) are subjected to harsh environmental conditions, including radiation (cosmic rays, ultraviolet, x-ray, and charged particle radiation), micrometeoroids and orbital debris, temperature extremes, thermal cycling, and atomic oxygen (AO). These environmental exposures can result in erosion, embrittlement and optical property degradation, threatening spacecraft performance and durability. While all of these environmental exposures can cause degradation to spacecraft components, AO is a particularly serious structural, thermal, and optical threat, to exterior oxidizable spacecraft components.

Atomic Oxygen↗

NASA NTRS2014

Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE): Overview, Accomplishments and Future Needs

Materials and devices used on the exterior of spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO) are subjected to environmental threats that can cause degradation in material properties, possibly threatening spacecraft mission success. These threats include: atomic oxygen (AO), ultraviolet and x-ray radiation, charged particle radiation, temperature extremes and thermal cycling, micrometeoroid and debris impacts, and contamination. Space environmental threats vary greatly based on spacecraft materials, thicknesses and stress levels, and the mission environment and duration. For more than a decade the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) has enabled the study of the long duration environmental durability of spacecraft materials in the LEO environment. The overall objective of MISSE is to test the stability and durability of materials and devices in the space environment in order to gain valuable knowledge on the performance of materials in space, as well as to enable lifetime predictions of new materials that may be used in future space flight. MISSE is a series of materials flight experiments, which are attached to the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS). Individual experiments were loaded onto suitcase-like trays, called Passive Experiment Containers (PECs). The PECs were transported to the ISS in the Space Shuttle cargo bay and attached to, and removed from, the ISS during extravehicular activities (EVAs). The PECs were retrieved after one or more years of space exposure and returned to Earth enabling post-flight experiment evaluation. MISSE is a multi-organization project with participants from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Department of Defense (DoD), industry and academia. MISSE has provided a platform for environmental durability studies for thousands of samples and numerous devices, and it has produced many tangible impacts. Ten PECs (and one smaller tray) have been flown, representing MISSE 1 through MISSE 8, yielding long-duration space environmental performance and durability data that enable material validation, processing recertification and space qualification; improved predictions of materials and component lifetimes in space; model verification and development; and correlation factors between space-exposure and ground-facilities enabling more accurate in-space performance predictions based on ground-laboratory testing. A few of the many experiment results and observations, and their impacts, are provided. Those highlighted include examples on improved understanding of atomic oxygen scattering mechanisms, LEO coating durability results, and polymer erosion yields and their impacts on spacecraft design. The MISSE 2 Atomic Oxygen Scattering Chamber Experiment discovered that the peak flux of scattered AO was determined to be 45 deg from normal incidence, not the model predicted cosine dependence. In addition, the erosion yield (E(sub y)) of Kapton H for AO scattered off oxidized-Al is 22% of the E(sub y) of direct AO impingement. These results were used to help determine the degradation mechanism of a cesium iodide detector within the Hubble Space Telescope Cosmic Origins Spectrograph Experiment. The MISSE 6 Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) Degradation Experiment measured surface electrical resistance of ram and wake ITO coated samples. The data confirmed that ITO is a stable AO protective coating, and the results validated the durability of ITO conductive coatings for solar arrays for the Atmosphere-Space Transition 2 Explorer program. The MISSE 2, 6 and 7 Polymer Experiments have provided LEO AO Ey data on over 120 polymer and composites samples. The flight E(sub y) values were found to range from 3.05 x 10(exp -26) cu cm/atom for the AO resistant polymer CORIN to 9.14 x 10(exp -26) cu cm/atom for polyoxymethylene (POM). In addition, flying the same polymers on different missions has advanced the understanding of the AO E(sub y) dependency on solar exposure for polymers containing fluorine. The MISSE polymer results are highly requested and have impacted spacecraft design for WorldView-2 & -3, the Global Precipitation Measurement-Microwave Imager, and other spacecraft. The flight data has enabled the development of an Atomic Oxygen Erosion Predictive Tool that allows the erosion prediction of new and non-flown polymers. The data has also been used to develop a new NASA Technical Standards Handbook "Spacecraft Polymers Atomic Oxygen Durability Handbook." Many intangible benefits have also been derived from MISSE. For example, over 40 students have collaborated on Glenn's MISSE experiments, which have resulted in greater than $80K in student scholarships and awards in national and international science fairs. Students have also given presentations and won poster competition awards at international space conferences.

Flight Experiment↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Initial Results of the MISSE-Flight Facility Polymers and Composites Experiment 1-4 (PCE 1-4)

Spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO) are subjected to harsh environmental conditions, including radiation (cosmic rays, ultraviolet (UV), x-ray and charged particle radiation), micrometeoroids and orbital debris, temperature extremes, thermal cycling, and atomic oxygen (AO). These environmental exposures can result in erosion, embrittlement and optical property degradation of susceptible materials threatening spacecraft performance and durability. To increase our understanding of effects such as AO erosion and radiation induced embrittlement of spacecraft materials, NASA Glenn Research Center has developed a series of experiments that are flown as part of the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) missions on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS). These experiments have provided critical space environmental durability data such as AO erosion data of polymers and composites, and radiation induced mechanical property degradation of spacecraft insulation materials, after long term space exposure. In continuing these studies, four Glenn experiments with 365 flight samples have been flown on ISS’s external MISSE-Flight Facility (MISSE-FF). These experiments are the Polymers and Composites Experiment-1 (PCE-1) flown as part of the inaugural MISSE-9 mission, the PCE-2 flown as part of the MISSE-10 mission, the PCE-3 flown as part of the MISSE-12 and MISSE-15 missions, and the PCE-4 flown as part of the MISSE-13 mission. The primary objective of the PCE 1-4 experiments is to determine the AO and radiation durability of spacecraft polymers and composites. In addition, each experiment has a wide variety of spacecraft materials and hence they each have numerous additional sample objectives. Each of the PCE 1-4 is designed to examine the consequences of AO interactions including AO erosion yield (Ey) and optical and thermal property characterization. Several polymers were flown in both ram and zenith flight orientations to determine the effect of varying solar to AO ratios on Ey. Common spacecraft materials including Teflon FEP, white Tedlar and Upilex-S were included on multiple MISSE missions so erosion dependence on environment exposure can be determined. The PCE-1 includes epoxy composite samples with varying ZnO levels to determine the effect of inorganic filler level on AO durability. And, a variety of samples were flown to characterize AO scattering and AO undercutting processes. All four PCE experiments include samples to provide better insight into radiation durability of polymers and composites. The MISSE-9 PCE-1 includes Teflon FEP tensile samples flown in the wake and zenith direction so variations in radiation exposure from the different flight directions can provide insight into radiation induced embrittlement of Teflon FEP. Teflon FEP tensile samples were also flown in the wake direction as part of the MISSE-13 PCE-4. In addition, shape memory alloys, shape memory composites, melanin based composites, stressed and unstressed gossamer sun shield materials, coated and uncoated docking seal samples, and new solar cell cover slides were flown for space radiation durability and/or shielding assessment. This paper provides an overview of Glenn’s PCE 1-4 MISSE-FF experiments and provides initial post-flight observations and results.

atomic oxygen↗

NASA NTRS2025

Erosion Results of the MISSE 9-15 Polymers and Composites Experiment 1-4 (PCE 1-4)

Polymers and other oxidizable materials on the exterior of spacecraft in the low Earth orbit (LEO) space environment can be eroded from reaction with atomic oxygen (AO). Therefore, in order to design durable spacecraft it is important to know the extent of erosion that will occur during a mission. This can be determined by knowing the LEO AO erosion yield, E y (volume loss per incident oxygen atom), of materials susceptible to AO reaction. In addition, recent flight experiments have shown that the AO E y can vary with the AO fluence and/or solar exposure. Therefore, obtaining AO E y data for materials flown on various spaceflight missions is important. NASA Glenn Research Center has flown numerous experiments as part of the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) missions on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS) to characterize the LEO E y of polymers, composites, protective coatings, and other spacecraft materials. Recently, four Glenn experiments with 365 flight (F) samples were flown on ISS’s MISSE-Flight Facility (MISSE-FF). These experiments are the Polymers and Composites Experiment-1 (PCE-1) flown as part of the MISSE-9 mission, the PCE-2 flown as part of the MISSE-10 mission, the PCE-3 flown as part of the MISSE-12 and MISSE-15 missions, and the PCE-4 flown as part of the MISSE-13 mission. Although each experiment had numerous sample objectives, the primary objective was to determine the LEO AO E y of various spacecraft materials as a function of solar irradiation and AO fluence. This paper provides a summary of the erosion data for the PCE 1-4 AO E y samples. The AO E y for 150 samples flown in either the LEO ram, wake, zenith or nadir directions are provided. The AO ram fluence varied from 2.97×10 20 atoms/cm 2 after 0.89 years of direct space exposure (with relatively high levels of Si contamination) on MISSE 12 to 3.93×10 20 atoms/cm 2 after 1.17 years of direct space exposure on MISSE-10. The ram AO E y values for uncoated polymers range from 3.81×10 –25 cm 3 /atom for polytetrafluoroethylene (M9R-C20 F) exposed to an AO fluence of 3.44×10 20 atoms/cm 2 on MISSE-9 to 4.43×10 –23 cm 3 /atom for AO etched low density polyimide aerogel (M12R-C21 F) exposed to an AO fluence of 2.97×10 21 atoms/cm 2 on MISSE-12. Because of the low AO fluence and relatively high Si contamination, a number of PCE-3 wake samples experienced mass gain. Thus, AO E y values are not provided for these samples. Although there are calculated AO E y values for the zenith, wake and nadir samples, the ram AO E y for a particular material is a more reliable value in terms of AO exposure because the zenith, wake and nadir directions were exposed to either no or very little AO fluence and thus other space environmental factors (i.e. vacuum, thermal extremes and thermal cycling, and/or various types of radiation) are responsible for the mass loss.

Erosion yield↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Overview of Results from the MISSE 9-15 Polymers and Composites Experiment 1-4 (PCE 1-4)

Spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO) and other planetary orbits are subjected to harsh environmental conditions that can result in erosion, embrittlement and optical property degradation of susceptible materials threatening spacecraft performance and durability. To increase our understanding of space environmental effects on spacecraft materials, NASA Glenn Research Center has developed a series of experiments flown as part of the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) missions on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS). Four Glenn experiments with 365 flight samples were flown on ISS’s MISSE-Flight Facility (MISSE-FF). These experiments are the Polymers and Composites Experiment-1 (PCE-1) flown as part of the MISSE-9 mission, the PCE-2 flown as part of the MISSE-10 mission, the PCE-3 flown as part of the MISSE-12 and MISSE-15 missions, and the PCE-4 flown as part of the MISSE-13 mission. The PCE 1-4 flight samples were flown in either ram, wake, zenith or nadir flight orientations. The primary objectives of the PCE 1-4 experiments are to determine the LEO atomic oxygen (AO) erosion yield, Ey (volume loss per incident oxygen atom) and radiation durability of spacecraft polymers, composites and coatings. In addition, each experiment has a wide variety of materials with numerous sample objectives. This presentation provides an overview of the PCE 1-4 experiments, the numerous sample collaborators, the space environmental exposure of the flight samples, and an overview of the post-flight observations and results. The results include AO fluence and contamination analyses for each mission flight orientation, erosion data for the PCE 1-4 AO Ey samples, optical property data, and tensile results for the MISSE-9 and MISSE-13 tensile samples. In addition, an introduction of results from other unique samples such as indium tin oxide (ITO) coated thermal control samples, shape memory polymer composites, melanin based composites, and specialty coatings, will be provided.

Atomic oxygen↗

NASA NTRS2024

Space Environmental Exposure of the MISSE 9-15 Polymers and Composites Experiment 1-4 (PCE 1-4)

Spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO) are subjected to harsh environmental conditions, including radiation (cosmic rays, ultraviolet (UV), x-ray and charged particle radiation), micrometeoroids and orbital debris, temperature extremes, thermal cycling, and atomic oxygen (AO). These environmental exposures can result in erosion, embrittlement and optical property degradation of susceptible materials threatening spacecraft performance and durability. To increase our understanding of effects such as AO erosion and radiation induced embrittlement of spacecraft materials, NASA Glenn Research Center has developed a series of experiments that were flown as part of the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) missions on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS). These experiments have provided critical space environmental durability data such as AO erosion data of polymers and composites, and radiation induced mechanical property degradation of spacecraft insulation materials, after long term space exposure. Recently, four Glenn experiments with 365 flight samples were flown on ISS’s MISSE-Flight Facility (MISSE-FF). These experiments are the Polymers and Composites Experiment-1 (PCE-1) flown as part of the MISSE-9 mission, the PCE-2 flown as part of the MISSE-10 mission, the PCE-3 flown as part of the MISSE-12 and MISSE-15 missions, and the PCE-4 flown as part of the MISSE-13 mission. This paper provides details on the space environment exposure of Glenn’s PCE 1-4 flight samples. Passive samples were flown in each flight orientation for post-flight AO fluence determination and on-orbit contamination analyses. Solar exposure estimates were computed by Aegis Aerospace, Inc. The environment exposure details include the total space vacuum duration, time on the MISSE-FF, the direct space exposure duration, the AO fluence and the computed mission Equivalent Sun Hours (ESH) solar exposure. Typical on-orbit temperatures are also provided along with a summary of analyses of PCE 1-4 contamination witness samples. Knowledge of the space environmental exposure of the PCE 1-4 flight samples is crucial for flight data interpretation.

Atomic oxygen↗

NASA NTRS2008

NASA Glenn Research Center's Materials International Space Station Experiments (MISSE 1-7)

NASA Glenn Research Center (Glenn) has 39 individual materials flight experiments (>540 samples) flown as part of the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) to address long duration environmental durability of spacecraft materials in low Earth orbit (LEO). MISSE is a series of materials flight experiments consisting of trays, called Passive Experiment Carriers (PECs) that are exposed to the space environment on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS). MISSE 1-5 have been successfully flown and retrieved and were exposed to the space environment from one to four years. MISSE 6A & 6B were deployed during the STS-123 shuttle mission in March 2008, and MISSE 7A & 7B are being prepared for launch in 2009. The Glenn MISSE experiments address atomic oxygen (AO) effects such as erosion and undercutting of polymers, AO scattering, stress effects on AO erosion, and in-situ AO fluence monitoring. Experiments also address solar radiation effects such as radiation induced polymer shrinkage, stress effects on radiation degradation of polymers, and radiation degradation of indium tin oxide (ITO) coatings and spacesuit fabrics. Additional experiments address combined AO and solar radiation effects on thermal control films, paints and cermet coatings. Experiments with Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) seals and UltraFlex solar array materials are also being flown. Several experiments were designed to provide ground-facility to in-space calibration data thus enabling more accurate in-space performance predictions based on ground-laboratory testing. This paper provides an overview of Glenn s MISSE 1-7 flight experiments along with a summary of results from Glenn s MISSE 1 & 2 experiments.

deGroh, Kim K.↗

NASA NTRS2009

Further Analysis of MISSE Polymeric Materials at MSFC

Many different spacecraft materials were flown as part of the Materials on International Space Station Experiment (MISSE). MISSE was exposed to the low Earth orbital environment of atomic oxygen, ultraviolet radiation, thermal cycling, and hard vacuum. A number of polymer samples did not survive the atomic oxygen attack. Mass and thickness loss measurements indicate the durability of the remaining polymeric materials to withstand the space environment. Results from the one-year exposure on MISSE-3 and MISSE-4 are compared to those from the four-year exposure on MISSE-1 and MISSE-2. Solar absorptance and infrared emittance measurements are given for thermal control materials. Transmission measurements are given where appropriate. A wide variety of polymeric materials were flown on MISSE, ranging from extremely thin films for solar sails to bulk materials. Some of the candidate solar sail materials were flown underneath magnesium fluoride windows to eliminate atomic oxygen effects and allow the study of ultraviolet radiation damage. Exposed seal materials include Viton , silicone, and fluorosilicone. Multi-layer insulation materials were flown, including atomic oxygen-resistant polymers. Also flown were candidate inflatable materials for a High Altitude Airship or inflatable lunar habitat. Polymer materials being flown on MISSE-6 are discussed.

Finckenor, Miria M.↗

NASA NTRS2021

MISSE-Flight Facility Polymers and Composites Experiment 1-4 (PCE 1-4)

Spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO) are subjected to harsh environmental conditions, including radiation (cosmic rays, ultraviolet (UV), x-ray and charged particle radiation), micrometeoroids and orbital debris, temperature extremes, thermal cycling, and atomic oxygen (AO). These environmental exposures can result in erosion, embrittlement and optical property degradation of susceptible materials threatening spacecraft performance and durability. To increase our understanding of effects such as AO erosion and radiation induced embrittlement of spacecraft materials, NASA Glenn Research Center has developed a series of experiments that are flown as part of the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) missions on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS). These experiments have provided critical space environmental durability data such as AO erosion data of polymers and composites, and radiation induced mechanical property degradation of spacecraft insulation materials, after long term space exposure. In continuing these studies, four Glenn experiments have been flown on ISS’s MISSE-Flight Facility (MISSE-FF). These experiments are the Polymers and Composites Experiment-1 (PCE-1) flown as part of the inaugural MISSE-9 mission, the PCE-2 flown as part of the MISSE-10 mission, the PCE-3 being flown as part of the MISSE-12 mission, and the PCE-4 being flown as part of the MISSE-13 mission. This paper provides an overview of space environmental effects on spacecraft materials and Glenn’s PCE 1-4 MISSE-FF experiments.

Atomic oxygen↗

NASA NTRS2024

Analyses of the MISSE 9-15 Polymers and Composites Experiment 1-4 (PCE 1-4) Contamination Samples

Spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO) are subjected to harsh environmental conditions, including radiation (cosmic rays, ultraviolet (UV), x-ray and charged particle radiation), micrometeoroids and orbital debris, temperature extremes, thermal cycling, and atomic oxygen (AO). These environmental exposures can result in erosion, embrittlement and optical property degradation of susceptible materials threatening spacecraft performance and durability. To increase our understanding of environmental effects such as AO erosion and radiation induced embrittlement of spacecraft materials, NASA Glenn Research Center developed a series of experiments that were flown as part of the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) missions on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS). Recently, four Glenn experiments with 365 flight samples were flown on ISS’s MISSE-Flight Facility (MISSE-FF). These experiments are the Polymers and Composites Experiment-1 (PCE-1) flown as part of the MISSE-9 mission, the PCE-2 flown as part of the MISSE-10 mission, the PCE-3 flown as part of the MISSE-12 and MISSE-15 missions, and the PCE-4 flown as part of the MISSE-13 mission. Each of these experiments included passive contamination witness samples in each flight direction for post-flight molecular contamination analyses. A total of 13 contamination flight samples were flown. The post-flight analyses of the PCE 1-4 contamination samples include X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analyses (surface and ion sputter depth analyses) and optical properties (total reflectance, total transmittance and solar absorptance). This paper provides results of post-flight analyses of the PCE 1-4 contamination samples and their corresponding control samples. Knowledge of on-orbit contamination is important for the PCE 1-4 flight data interpretation.

Atomic Oxygen↗