LDEF (Flight), AO180 : The Effect of Space Environment Exposure on the Properties of Polymer Matrix

LDEF (Flight), AO180 : The Effect of Space Environment Exposure on the Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials, Tray D12 The flight photograph was taken from the Orbiter aft flight deck during the LDEF retrieval. During the mission, the tray surface was at an angle of approximately ninety-eight (98) degrees to the orbital velocity vector and therefore exposed to a lower atomic oxygen flux than if parallel with the velocity vector. A very light stain is present on white paint dots on experiment tray clamps along the lower edge of the tray. The Polymer Matrix Composite Materials experiment has several changes to material colors. The composite containing the aramid (Kevlar) fibers has changed from a yellow to a light brown color and the cylindrical tubes containing the boron and carbon fiber materials have changed from a light green tint to a brown color.
NASA Identifier: L90-10502 S32-89-052