Understanding optical changes in on-orbit spacecraft materials

Jacqueline A. Reyes; Benjamin G. Miller; Elena A. Plis; Dale C. Ferguson; Ryan C. Hoffmann; Heather M. Cowardin; Moriba K. Jah; Daniel P. Engelhart

doi:10.1117/12.2528926

9 September 2019 Understanding optical changes in on-orbit spacecraft materials

Jacqueline A. Reyes, Benjamin G. Miller, Elena A. Plis, Dale C. Ferguson, Ryan C. Hoffmann, Heather M. Cowardin, Moriba K. Jah, Daniel P. Engelhart

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11127, Earth Observing Systems XXIV; 111270I (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2528926
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2019, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Ground- and space-based optical observations of space objects rely on knowledge concerning how spacecraft materials interact with light. One common surface material for many currently active spacecraft is Kapton-HN polyimide. Changes in optical signature for polymeric materials can occur due to surface degradation, leading to altered reflectivity, or due to radiation induced chemical modification, leading to an alteration of a material’s absorption/transmission properties. The optical fingerprints of commonly used materials change continuously under exposure to high energy electrons, a primary damaging species in geostationary Earth orbit (GEO). Laboratory observations show that these changes in a material’s optical signature are wavelength dependent and to some degree transient. This work investigates the changes in the optical reflection behavior of a variety of aerospace materials before and after electron irradiation. The results of this investigation will find use in the space debris remediation community for characterization of high area to mass ratio (HAMR) objects and other larger space debris.

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Citation Download Citation

Jacqueline A. Reyes, Benjamin G. Miller, Elena A. Plis, Dale C. Ferguson, Ryan C. Hoffmann, Heather M. Cowardin, Moriba K. Jah, and Daniel P. Engelhart "Understanding optical changes in on-orbit spacecraft materials", Proc. SPIE 11127, Earth Observing Systems XXIV, 111270I (9 September 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2528926

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