Impact of oxygen plasma beams on spacecraft materials
The effect oxygen plasma with energies of 20–30 eV has on a number of materials is studied by simulating their exposure on orbital spacecraft during long duration flights in the ionosphere. The effects of changes in the thermal and optical properties of ECOM-2 black thermoregulation coating and the destruction of the aramid fibers in PRUSMl shielding braid and Scotch 431 protective polyether layer tape that degrade their material properties are described.