LDEF (Flight), S0001 : Space Debris Impact Experiment, Tray F07

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. The paint dots on clamp blocks located at the center of the right tray flange and at the left end of the lower flange have changed little from their original white color. The discolorations on the upper tray sidewall appear to be fingerprints from handling during experiment assembly. 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. A portion of the pink and greenish-gray tint on the two (2) debris panels are a by-product of the chromic anodize coating process, however, a part of the intensity can be attributed to reflections of the blue sky. The horizontal streaks on the right debris panel and the vertical streaks on the left debris panel are by-products of chromic anodizing that have been enhanced by the blue reflection. The light band along the vertical edge of the debris panel is a reflection from the tray sidewall.

NASA Identifier: L90-10459 S32-82-026