The following information is a sampling of the results obtained from MISSE-1 and 2 thus far.
Some particulate contamination was observed. Optical property changes in thermal control
materials were also seen. Several materials performed well in the harsh environment. Lack of
widespread molecular contamination on MISSE gave confidence in using the ISS for future
material studies. However, over 100 micrometeoroid and space debris strikes were found on
MISSE surfaces. Atomic Oxygen completely eroded many polymer film samples, but some
survived and were analyzed.
Many of the experiments provided space-validated results for ground-based experiments, such
as the durability of materials to withstand Atomic Oxygen erosion (AO). Because AO erosion is
the primary weathering force to spacecraft materials, and true space environmental conditions
are difficult to replicate on Earth, MISSE provided a valuable test platform that enabled
methods for validating ground results. Forty-one different polymers called Polymer Erosion and
Contamination Experiment (PEACE) Polymers were tested with the objective to determine the
atomic oxygen erosion yield for a variety of materials such as Kevlar®, polyethelene, Lucite,
Kapton®, and Teflon® that are used in spacecraft and exposed to the space environment. The
erosion yield data are immediately applicable to spacecraft designs. Even though the length of
exposure was 4 times longer than planned, the sample preparation method of stacking many
thin layers allowed for meaningful data with residual samples even after 4 years. In addition to
testing various materials, experiments were also set up to measure the geometry of atomic
oxygen scattering from oxidized aluminum surfaces.
MISSE-1 and -2 results expanded knowledge into atomic oxygen erosion and resulted in several
patents and spin-offs ranging from cleaning artwork methods, parts etching to be used in
human grafts, new methodologies for testing blood sugar, and more. Because MISSE assembled
partners across industry and the Department of Defense, in addition to NASA scientists and
academic partners, many of the results were proprietary.
PUBLICATION(S)
Banks BA, Simmons JC, de Groh KK, Miller SK. The effect of ash and inorganic pigment fill on the
atomic oxygen erosion of polymers and paints. 12th International Symposium on Materials in
the Space Environment, Noordwijk, Netherlands; February 2013.
Banks BA, Backus JA, Manno MV, Waters DL, Cameron KC, de Groh KK. Prediction of atomic
oxygen erosion yield for spacecraft polymers. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. January-
February, 2011;48(1):14-22. doi: 10.2514/1.48849.
Daniels CC, Wasowski JL, Panickar MB, Smith IM. Leak rate performance of 3 silicone elastomer
compounds after ground-simulated and on-orbit environment exposures. 3rd AIAA Atmospheric
Space Environments Conference. Honolulu, HI; June 27-30, 2011.
Banks BA, Backus JA, Manno MV, Waters DL, Cameron KC, de Groh KK. Atomic oxygen erosion
yield prediction for spacecraft polymers in low Earth orbit. NASA Technical Memorandum;
2009.