Laboratory and Space Measurements of Materials

The SCATHA(Spacecraft Charging AT High Altitude) data has shown that several dielectric materials responded to the space environment differently than was expected prior to launch. For example, there was a marked increase in the bulk conductivity of Kapton samples that were exposed to the sun in the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fennell,J. F, Mizera,P. F, Leung,M. S
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Component reports
Dielectrics
Electrical insulation
Electrical properties
High altitude
Kapton
Laboratory tests
Measurement
Quartz
SCATHA(Spacecraft Charging at High Altitude)
Space charge
Spacecraft
Spacecraft insulating materials
Tetrafluoroethylene resins
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Summary:The SCATHA(Spacecraft Charging AT High Altitude) data has shown that several dielectric materials responded to the space environment differently than was expected prior to launch. For example, there was a marked increase in the bulk conductivity of Kapton samples that were exposed to the sun in the space vacuum. Teflon accumulated a permanent charge, which resulted in a potential difference that increased with time between it and the satellite frame. A quartz cloth thermal control material was observed to charge to higher levels on orbit than was obtained in pre-launch laboratory tests. Some of the differences between the expected and observed data have been explained by laboratory tests that more accurately model the space environment. (Author) This article is from 'Proceedings of the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory Workshop on Natural Charging of Large Space Structures in Near Earth Polar Orbit: 14-15 September 1982,' AD-A134 894, p197-213.