A Study of the effects of prolonged exposure to the space environment and of charge-enhanced contamination on the electron emission and resistivity of spacecraft materials, the State of Utah Space Environment & Contamination Study (SUSpECTS), is planned for flight aboard the MISSE-6 payload. the Materials International Space month exposure periods on-orbit on the International Space Station, with a target flight date of mid-2006. The study is conducted by the Utah State University Materials that contamination can lead to catastrophic charging effects under certain circumstances, little direct information is presently available on the effects of sample deterioration and on emission properties for materials flown in space.
Approximately 145 samples will be mounted on panels on both the ram and wake sides of the ISS. They have been carefully chosen to provide needed information for different ongoing studies and broad cross-section of prototypical materials used on the exteriors of spacecrafts. Characterization measurements include optical and electron microscopy, reflection spectroscopy, resistivity and Auger electron spectroscopy. In addition, studies of the service life of composite and ceramic materials of the ATK Thermal Protection Systems and Lightweight Structure Systems will evaluate chemical and mechanical properties as a function of depth from the AO and UV exposure surface. This poster will chronicle the design, construction, and assembly of the sample holders and also the characterization of each of the material samples
