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Space station contamination modelingCurrent plans for the operation of Space Station Freedom allow the orbit to decay to approximately an altitude of 200 km before reboosting to approximately 450 km. The Space Station will encounter dramatically increasing ambient and induced environmental effects as the orbit decays. Unfortunately, Shuttle docking, which has been of concern as a high contamination period, will likely occur during the time when the station is in the lowest orbit. The combination of ambient and induced environments along with the presence of the docked Shuttle could cause very severe contamination conditions at the lower orbital altitudes prior to Space Station reboost. The purpose here is to determine the effects on the induced external environment of Space Station Freedom with regard to the proposed changes in altitude. The change in the induced environment will be manifest in several parameters. The ambient density buildup in front of ram facing surfaces will change. The source of such contaminants can be outgassing/offgassing surfaces, leakage from the pressurized modules or experiments, purposeful venting, and thruster firings. The third induced environment parameter with altitude dependence is the glow. In order to determine the altitude dependence of the induced environment parameters, researchers used the integrated Spacecraft Environment Model (ISEM) which was developed for Marshall Space Flight Center. The analysis required numerous ISEM runs. The assumptions and limitations for the ISEM runs are described.
Document ID
19900019274
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Gordon, T. D.
(Science and Engineering Associates, Inc. Englewood, CO, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
December 15, 1989
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Report/Patent Number
NASA-CR-183871
NAS 1.26:183871
SEA-D470-2
Accession Number
90N28590
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASA ORDER H-80598-B
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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