LDEF (Flight), S0001 : Space Debris Impact Experiment, Tray F05

The flight photograph was taken while the LDEF was attached to the Orbiter's RMS arm prior to berthing in the Orbiter's cargo bay. A combination of the space environment and contamination has caused the paint dot on the clamp blocks located at the centers of the upper tray flange and the right tray flange and at the left end of the lower flange to change from their original white color to dark brown. The Space Debris Impact Experiment consists of a three sixteenth (3/16) of an inch thick chromic anodized aluminum panel mounted in a three (3) inch deep LDEF experiment tray. The side of the plate exposed to the LDEF interior is painted with Chemglaze Z-306 flat black paint over a Chemglaze 9924 wash primer. The panels are attached to the aluminum tray structure with non- magnetic stainless steel fasteners. The panel coatings, a thin layer of chromic anodize facing out and the Chemglaze Z-306 black paint facing the LDEF interior, contribute significantly to thermal control of the LDEF spacecraft. The greenish-gray and pink tints on the two (2) debris panels are a by-product of the chromic anodize coating process and not attributed to contamination and/or exposure to the space environment. Finger prints seen along the center edges of the debris panels indicate improper preflight handling/cleaning.

NASA Identifier: L90-10411 S32-77-045