LDEF (Postflight), NASA history collection

LDEF (Postflight) EL-1994-00114 LDEF (Postflight) The image provides an overall view of LDEF experiments located in Bays A , the bay adjacent to the center ring structure, thru Bay C in Rows 12, the upper row, thru Row 03, the lower row. The LDEF is mounted on the LDEF Assembly and Transport System (LATS) in the rotation mode. The surfaces of the experiments located on rows 12, 01, 02 and 03 were either parallel to the velocity vector or in the LDEF wake where degradation due to atomic oxygen bombardment is minimal. The image shows the surfaces immediately after the LDEF arrived in SAEF II and prior to initiation of deintegration operations. The experiments appear intact with no apparent damage. The silver TEFLONΆ_ thermal control mate- rial covering the experiment in LDEF position A02 appears to have remained specular. Note the progressive darkening of the white paint dots on the experiment tray clamp blocks as you scan from row 12 to row 03. The white paint on experiment surfaces in rows 02 and 03 appears stained with a light brown stain and the scuff plate color has changed from a bright caution yellow to a dull and darker yellow.

NASA Identifier: NIX_EL-1994-00114