The effects of ionizing radiation, temperature, and space contamination effects on photonic coatings

Pirich, Ronald; Weir, John; Leyble, Dennis; DiGiuseppe, M. A.

doi:10.1117/12.828235

Cited by 7 publications

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“…The design of the Altair will need to take the most mass-effective of these solutions into consideration. Northrop Grumman is investigating one of the most promising technologies are anti-contamination coatings that can prevent dust cling (Pirich, Weir, Leyble, 2009).…”

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From Apollo LM to Altair: Design, Environments, Infrastructure, Missions, and Operations

Cohen

2009

AIAA SPACE 2009 Conference &Amp; Exposition

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This essay presents a comparison between the Apollo Lunar Module (LM) and the current concepts and requirements for the Altair Lunar Lander. The basis of comparison reflects the difference between the Apollo Program, pursuing a Cold War era "Flag and Footsteps" mission, and the Constellation Program creating a more expansive program of exploration leading to a permanent human presence on the moon. The specific areas of comparison derive largely from the changes in mission philosophy and exploration strategy-not from technology or engineering. These factors illuminate the differences in the current design drivers for the Altair compared to the Apollo LM. Nomenclature ALARA As Low As Reasonably Achievable, refers to radiation exposure. ALHAT Autonomous Lander Hazard Avoidance Technology. Altair NASA's Lunar Lander to return crew and cargo to the moon. Ascent Module The Altair module with the flight crew station where the crew pilot the vehicle; the Ascent Module launches from the surface to return the crew to the Orion in LLO, leaving the DM behind. Ascent Stage The Apollo LM module with the flight crew station where the crew pilot the vehicle. The Ascent Stage launches from the surface to return the crew to the CSM in LLO, leaving the Descent Stage behind. BFO Blood forming organs. CARD Constellation Architecture Requirements Document, NASA CxP-70000. CEV Crew Exploration Vehicle. CM The Apollo Command Module, also the Orion Crew Module. ConOps Concept of Operations. CSM The Apollo Command and Service Module. EDS Earth Departure Stage. EOR Earth orbit rendezvous. ESAS Exploration Systems Architecture Study, December 2005. EVA Extra vehicular activity. GCR Galactic Cosmic Ray. Gray Gray (Gy) is the SI unit of absorbed [radiation] dose. One gray is equal to an absorbed dose of 1 Joule/kilogram (100 rads). US NRC § 20.1004 Units of radiation dose. An absorbed dose. Gy-Eq Gray equivalent-a [radiation] dose weighted for relative biological effectiveness (RBE). In the NCRP Report No. 132 (2000), dose limits for deterministic effects are expressed as the organ dose in gray multiplied by the relevant RBE for the specific organ and radiation. HSIR Human System Integration Requirements, NASA CxP-70024. HZE High Z (atomic number) and energy particles. Inconel A registered trademark of the Special Metals Corporation for a family of austentitic nickelchromium-based "superalloys," used with great success for the pressure vessel of the Apollo LM crew cabin. ISRU In situ resource utilization.

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From Apollo LM to Altair: Design, Environments, Infrastructure, Missions, and Operations

Cohen

2009

AIAA SPACE 2009 Conference &Amp; Exposition

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“…We are applying techniques for tailoring coating morphologies and developing a family of self-cleaning and anti-contamination coating systems for a variety of photonic applications including sensors, photovoltaics, and thermal radiators for future space exploration. 3 coatings that present a unique and paradigm-changing approach to dust mitigation using biocidal and chemical neutralization features. Dust accumulation on sensors, solar cells, and thermal radiators gradually reduces their effectiveness until they no longer generate or dissipate enough energy to sustain operation of equipment.…”

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Self-cleaning photonic coatings

Pirich¹

2009

SPIE Newsroom

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A new family of coating systems provides self-decontamination against dust and biological pathogens for future space exploration.Dust contamination is a serious problem for equipment and vehicles for space exploration. For example, the Moon's dust (lunar regolith) is chemically composed of several elements and compounds, and lunar 'weathering' has left the soil with a relatively fine texture compared to the size distribution of terrestrial dust particles. Previous NASA investigations indicated a lunar-regolith deposition rate of approximately 0.3% coverage per day, although this will vary both geographically and as a function of time. In addition, the Moon's surface is electrostatically charged by its interaction with the local plasma environment and solar UV-and x-ray-induced photoemission of electrons. The lunar thermal environment poses unique challenges to coatings since it is characterized by large temperature variations, long hot and cold soak times, and reduced heat-rejection capability caused by the presence of regolith. Dust gathers on photonic sensors, inhibiting motion and data gathering. Devices that require transparency to light for maximum efficiency (such as solar photovoltaic power systems, video cameras, and optical or IR detectors) also suffer from dust accumulation (see Figure 1). Some scientists have even suggested another potential hazard, that equipment might inadvertently capture extraterrestrial bacteria or spores, possibly leading to catastrophic contamination of human habitats.The Apollo astronauts noted that their extravehicularmobility suits were worn through the outer layer. Gauge dials were so abraded during the Apollo 16 mission that they were unreadable. The sun shade on Harrison Schmitt's face plate was so scratched that he could not see in certain directions. NASA strongly believes that these abrasion problems must be solved, especially for very light-transmission-sensitive photonic lenses and coatings. Dust contaminant particles can absorb or scatter light either out of or into certain pixels, thus giving rise to dark and bright artifacts, respectively.Only very localized and weak magnetic fields exist on the lunar surface, leaving it essentially directly exposed to the impact Figure 1. Examples of (left) a lunar-dust contaminant particle, and contamination-critical surfaces including (middle) extravehicularactivity suits and (right) solar panels attached to NASA's Spirit rover. 1, 2of solar UV and x-rays, solar-wind plasma, and energetic particles. The lack of an atmosphere results in positive (negative) charging of the environment in sunlight (shadow) regions. This leads to potentials that can vary over orders of magnitude in response to changing solar illumination and plasma conditions. At the macroscale, contaminant adhesion caused by surface (van der Waals) forces are very small and can be easily perturbed by other external forces. However, on nanoscales van der Waals forces can be significant. In general, ionizing radiation does not affect these intermolecular forces unle...

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Therapeutic Applications of Biophotonics in Space

Souvestre¹,

Pederson²

2022

Handbook of Space Pharmaceuticals

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The effects of ionizing radiation, temperature, and space contamination effects on photonic coatings

Cited by 7 publications

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From Apollo LM to Altair: Design, Environments, Infrastructure, Missions, and Operations

From Apollo LM to Altair: Design, Environments, Infrastructure, Missions, and Operations

Self-cleaning photonic coatings

Therapeutic Applications of Biophotonics in Space

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