EuroMir '95: First results from the dustwatch-P detectors of the European Space Exposure Facility

Shrine, N.R.G. and McDonnell, J.A.M. and Burchell, M.J. and Gardner, D.J. and Jolly, H.S. and Ratcliff, P.R. and Thomson, R. (1998) EuroMir '95: First results from the dustwatch-P detectors of the European Space Exposure Facility. Advances in Space Research . Pergamon Press Ltd, Amsterdam, 232 pp. ISBN 0-08-043305-7.

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Abstract

A small, passive, retrievable dust detector/collector experiment (Dustwatch-P), based on thin foil and aerogel capture cells has been developed at the University of Rent by the Unit for Space Sciences & Astrophysics (USSA). It was mounted in the European Space Exposure Facility (ESEF) designed by the Institut d'Astrophysique Spatial (Orsay, France) and flown on the joint ESA/Russian Space Agency EuroMir '95 mission. The experiment sampled micrometeoroids and space debris in the immediate vicinity of a large space facility (Mit) and offers the opportunity for detailed particle characterisation by intact capture. Dustwatch-P was housed in 2 ESEF cassettes, each contained: 1849mm(2) of aluminium foil capture cells, 2.4 mu m and 5 mu m thick respectively, mounted above a pure copper plate; 8450mm(2) of 12mm thick silica aerogel (density of 0.1g/cm(3) and pore size of approximately 0.07 mu m). 8650mm of experiment-holder surfaces (highly polished 6061-T6 aluminium alloy) were also used for detection. The foils and experiment-holder surfaces readily give a flux measurement for comparison to previous data with chemical classification of any impactor residues. The aerogel was intended to capture, with minimal modification, incident hypervelocity particles. Dustwatch-P was exposed to the space environment when the ESEF cassettes were opened during Mir EVA's on the 20/21 October '95. The cassettes were hermetically sealed in space for return to Earth in February '96. We present the first results of post-flight analysis. A hypervelocity perforation has been found in each foil and a region of ejecta impacts indicating a large impact in the vicinity. This impact rate gives a higher flux than expected, possibly due to a debris cloud. (C) 1997 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

Item Type: Book
Additional information: BO.8, BO.3 and BO.5 Symposium of COSPAR Scientific Commission B on Hypervelocity Impacts in Space and Planetology, at the 31st COSPAR Scientific Assembly BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, JUL 14-21, 1996
Subjects: T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Divisions: Faculties > Science Technology and Medical Studies > School of Physical Sciences > Centre for Astrophysics and Planetary Sciences
Depositing User: T.J. Sango
Date Deposited: 13 May 2009 06:21
Last Modified: 20 May 2011 23:38
Resource URI: http://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/17949 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)
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