PROGRAM ASTEC (ADVANCED SOLAR TURBO ELECTRIC CONCEPT). PART 1. CANDIDATE MATERIALS LABORATORY TESTS

A space power system of the type envisioned by the ASTEC program requires the development of a lightweight solar collector of high reflectance capable of withstanding the space environment for an extended period. A survey of the environment of interest for ASTEC purposes revealed 4 potential sources...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hurtt, W W, Blakney, T L, Cunnington, G R, Bradshaw, W G, Pollard, H E
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
ALUMINUM
ASTEC(ADVANCED SOLAR TURBO ELECTRIC CONCEPT)
COATINGS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
DEGRADATION
Electric Power Production and Distribution
ELECTRON IRRADIATION
EMISSIVITY
EPOXY RESINS
EXPANDED PLASTICS
HONEYCOMB CORES
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
NICKEL
OXIDES
PHENOLIC PLASTICS
REFLECTION
REFLECTORS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR RADIATION
SPACE ENVIRONMENTS
SPACECRAFT COMPONENTS
SPECIFIC HEAT
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMAL EXPANSION
THERMAL PROPERTIES
THERMAL STABILITY
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
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Summary:A space power system of the type envisioned by the ASTEC program requires the development of a lightweight solar collector of high reflectance capable of withstanding the space environment for an extended period. A survey of the environment of interest for ASTEC purposes revealed 4 potential sources of damage to collector materials: solar uv radiation, low-energy electrons encountered in the auroral zones, vacuum, and combined temperature levels and thermal cycling. A laboratory test program was conducted to determine the basic thermophysical, optical, and mechanical properties of materials developed by the solar-collector industry for use in the ASTEC program, and to test the effects of space environment on these materials. Of 6 material systems selected for testing, 4 were epoxy-bonded metal systems, 1 was phenolic foam with a metal surface, and 1 was polyurethane-rigidized nylon with an aluminized mylar surface. Honeycomb configurations proved to be far superior from a structural standpoint to the nonhoneycomb types. All the reflective surfaces degraded to some extent in the simulated ASTEC environment, but material systems with bare metal surfaces were significantly more stable than systems with silicon oxide overcoatings. In addition, these systems had a higher initial reflectance. No material proved to be ideally suited in all respects for use in the ASTEC solar collector. See also Part 2, AD480103.