Space Shuttle Thermal Protection System Repair Flight Experiment Induced Contamination Impacts

Abstract

NASA's activities to prepare for Flight LF1 (STS-114) included development of a method to repair the Thermal Protection System (TPS) of the Orbiter's leading edge should it be damaged during ascent by impacts from foam, ice, etc…. Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) is used for the leading edge TPS. The repair material that was developed is named NonOxide Adhesive eXperimental (NOAX). NOAX is an uncured adhesive material that acts as an ablative repair material. NOAX completes curing during the Orbiter's descent. The Thermal Protection System (TPS) Detailed Test Objective 848 (DTO 848) performed on Flight LF1 (STS-114) characterized the working life, porosity void size in a micro-gravity environment, and the on-orbit performance of the repairs to pre-damaged samples. DTO 848 is also scheduled for Flight ULF1.1 (STS-121) for further characterization of NOAX onorbit performance. Due to the high material outgassing rates of the NOAX material and concerns with contamination impacts to optically sensitive surfaces, ASTM E 1559 outgassing tests were performed to determine NOAX condensable outgassing rates as a function of time and temperature. Sensitive surfaces of concern include the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) visor, cameras, and other sensors in proximity to the experiment during the initial time after application. This paper discusses NOAX outgassing characteristics, how the amount of deposition on optically sensitive surfaces while the NOAX is being manipulated on the pre-damaged RCC samples was determined by analysis, and how flight rules were developed to protect those optically sensitive surfaces from excessive contamination where necessary.

Mechanical challenges in advanced spacecraft development

“…型贮箱, 刚-柔-液的相互作用将成为航天器总体设计 和控制系统设计的重要影响因素 [9,10] . [11] Figure 3 James Webb Space Telescope [11] 大, 建设与之相匹配的大型地面试验设施往往投资规 [23] .…”