The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) and the accompanying experiments were composed of and contained a wide variety of materials, representing the largest collection of materials flown in low earth orbit (LEO) and retrieved for ground-based analysis to date. The results and implications of the mechanical, thermal, optical, and electrical data from these materials are the foundation on which future LEO spacecraft and missions will be built. The LDEF Materials Special Investigation Group (MSIG) has been charged with establishing and developing databases to document these materials and their performance to assure not only that the data are archived for future generations but also that the data are available to the spacecraft user community in an easily accessed, user-friendly form. This paper gives an overview of the current LDEF Materials Databases, their capabilities, and availability. An overview of the philosophy and format of a developing handbook on LEO effects on materials is also described

Funk, Joan G.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

N95- 23916
OVERVIEW OF THE LDEF MSIG DATABASING ACq'IVIT_S
Joan G. Funk
NASA Langley Research Center
Hampton, Va 23681-0001
Phone: 804/864-3092, Fax: 804/864-4449
ABSTRACT
L/_'// L.._-
The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) and the accompanying exlSeriments were
composed of and contained a wide variety of materials, representing the largest collection of materials
flown in low Earth orbit (LEO) and retrieved for ground-based analysis to date. The results and
implications of the mechanical, thermal, optical, and electrical data from these materials are the
foundation on which future LEO spacecraft and missions will be built. The LDEF Materials Special
Investigation Group (MSIG) has been charged with establishing and developing databases to
document these materials and their performance to assure not only that the data are archived for future
generations but also that the data are available to the spacecraft user community in an easily accessed,
user-friendly form. This paper gives an overview of the current LDEF Materials Databases, their
capabilities and availability. An overview of the philosophy and format of a developing handbook on
LEO effects on materials is also described.
INTRODUCTION
The LDEF is a reusable, unmanned spacecraft designed to accommodate a wide variety of
technology and science experiments which require long-term exposure to a known LEO environment.
The LDEF was designed to be Iransported into LEO via the Space Shuttle, free-fly for an extended time
period, and be retrieved by the Space Shuttle for return to Earth. The LDEF was deployed on April 7,
1984 into a nearly circular 257 nautical mile orbit with a 28.4 degree inclination. On January 29,
1990, the LDEF was retrieved at a decreased altitude of 179 nautical miles after 69 months in space.
During the mission life, the LDEF was exposed to the range of solar conditions including solar
minimum and maximum. As LDEF was gravity gradient stabilized, the leading edge of the spacecraft
saw the greatest atomic oxygen (AO) exposure, 5.8 x 1022 atoms/in 2, with the trailing edge of the
spacecraft having only minimal AO exposure. The environment that the LDEF was exposed to is
described in reference 1.
The LDEF MSIG was formed to investigate the effects of long-term LEO exposure on structure
and experiment materials which were not original test specimens. A significant part of the MSIG's
charter is to establish and develop electronic databases which will eventually contain the wide variety
and vast quantity of electrical, thermal, optical, and mechanical materials data being generated by the
MSIG members and other LDEF investigators (ref. 1, 2). The MSIG chose to accomplish this task by
a three-pronged approach as shown in figure 1. The first approach was to build on the Optical
Materials Database developed by the Boeing Defense & Space Group under the auspices of the Systems
Special Investigation Group (ref. 3). The Optical Materials Database was expanded and four other
IBM/Macintosh software-based databases, commonly referred to mini-databases, were developed. 1
The second approach utilized a pre-existing global access database system, the Materials and Processes
Technical Information System (MAPTIS), as the host for the LDEF Materials Database. The third
approach was to develop a version of the LDEF Materials Database for use with PDA Engineering's
1 Work done under NASA Langley Research Center contract NAS1-19247.
PRIF.C.,,_ PAGE BL _'',_:'" ;aO'( FILME_
859
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19950017496 2020-06-16T08:39:13+00:00Z
M/VISION®2, 3 software. An overview of the capabilities and requirements of the databases is
discussed. Information on availability and how to access these databases is also given.
MINI-DATABASES
Under contract to the SSIG and MSIG, Boeing Defense & Space Group has developed a series
of databases containing results from LDEF on specific topics. These databases were developed to
provide the user community with early access to LDEF data. The databases were developed for use
with IBM and Macintosh versions of Filemaker_ Pro software 4. Filemaker Pro is a flat file database
which means that the user can retrieve multiple data types such as tabular data, text, graphs, diagrams,
and or picture files. The databases' simple interface allows for easy use of the database by the novice
user. The individual databases are password protected, allowing the user full access privileges to read,
print, or download the data but not allowing the user to edit the data. The software allows the user to
search and retrieve specific information in a variety of layouts. Data can be exported to a variety of
formats including ASCII. All data is traced back to its original data source. A more detailed report of
the capabilities of these mini-databases can be found in reference 3.
The mini-databases cover the optical materials, silverized Teflon thermal blankets, treated
aluminum hardware, thermal control paints, and the LDEF environment areas of interest. The Optical
Materials Database is a compilation of the results on the optical materials flown on LDEF and was
originally developed by the SSIG. The Silverized Teflon Thermal Blankets Database covers the results
from the silverized Teflon thermal blankets utilized on LDEF. The Treated Aluminum Hardware
Database is a compilation of data from the various types of aluminum hardware flown on or as part of
the LDEF structure including different alloys, surface conditions, etc. The Thermal Control Paints
Database contains information on the wide variety of paints flown on LDEF. The LDEF Environments
Database contains information on the environment that LDEF was exposed to, including thermal
profiles, and solar UV, and AO exposures levels. An order form for the mini-databases is given as
figure 2.
MAPTIS VERSION OF THE LDEF MATERIALS DATABASE
NASA Marshall Flight Center has incorporated the LDEF Materials Database as a part of their
automated storage, retrieval, and display database system. The preliminary version of the LDEF
Materials Database was released on MAPTIS in June of 1992 and an updated version is currently
available to all interested parties in the international space community. The goal of MAPTIS is to
provide an efficient, reliable means of supplying the information needed for the selection and
application of materials and processes to produce the hardware required for NASA's and industry's
current and future space missions. MAPTIS uses ORACLE Corporation's relational data management
system and can be accessed via modem and a 1-800 phone number or via Intemet. There are several
different databases in MAPTIS, one of which is the LDEF Materials Database.
The LDEF Materials Database allows the user to view and search a listing of the materials flown
on LDEF, a listing of materials by specific material or material type, a listing of materials by property
and property value, and original data source. All of the data is traced back to the original reference.
Only tabular data is given as output of the MAPTIS version of the LDEF Materials Database. An order
2 The use of trademarks or names of manufacturers inthis report is for accurate reporting and does not
constitute an official endorsement, either expressed or implied, of such products or manufacturers by the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
3M/VISION is a registered trademark of PDA Engineering.
4Filemaker Pro is a registered trademark of Clads Corporation.
860
form for the MAPTIS version of the LDEF Materials Database is given in figure 3.
M/VISION VERSION OF THE LDEF MATERIALS DATABASE
M/VISION is a materials software system, developed and marketed by PDA Engineering,
which facilitates the organization and visualization of materials engineering data. M/VISION allows the
user to analyze, manipulate, query, and graph materials data. The M/VISION software includes
graphics, spreadsheet, imaging, and modeling capabilities as well as databasing capabilities. Multiple
data types, such as tabular data, graphs, and raster images (e.g., C-scans, photomicrographs, etc ...)
can be stored in a single M/VISION database. M/VISION is a hybrid hierarchical/relational database
with both hierarchical and standard Structure Query Language (SQL) interfaces. An integrated
engineering spreadsheet is included in the software that provides the user an efficient means to
manipulate and visualize the information in the database. Databases can be manipulated via user-written
FORTRAN and C codes.
A version of the LDEF Materials Database that runs on M/VISION is current available to the
international space materials community to run on their own licensed M/VISION software. The user
can examine data based on specific materials, environmental parameters such as UV or AO exposure,
experiment number, and data source. Once again all data is referenced to the original data source. Data
from the LDEF Materials Database can be operated on and graphed using this software tool. An order
form for the M/VISION version of the LDEF Materials Database is given in figure 4.
HANDBOOK
The results from LDEF and other LEO experiments and spacecraft are being used to determine the
"rules of thumb" governing the relationship between the LEO environment and materials effects and life
performance. The "rules of thumb" and the data to support them are being compiled into a handbook
by TRW, Inc. under contract to NASA Langley Research Center. The principal audience for the
handbook is the LEO spacecraft designer. The handbook is expected to be available in early 1995.
SUMMARY
Data from the materials and systems flown on LDEF experiments or as part of the LDEF structure is
available in a variety of formats to suit the needs of the international space user community. All forms
are available free-of-charge by filling out the request forms found in figs. 2-4.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author would like to thank Dr. Gary Pippin and Gall Bohnhoff-Hlavacek of Boeing Defense &
Space Group for their work on the mini-databases, Marshall Space Flight Space Center and their
contractor's BAMSI, Inc. specifically John Strickland and Frankie Leath for their work on the LDEF
Materials Database and PDA Engineering for their support of the M/VISION version of the LDEF
Materials Database. The support of the LDEF principal investigators in allowing us to utilize their data
is gratefully acknowledged.
REFERENCES
1. Levine, Arlene S., ed.: LDEF- 69 Months In Space: First Post-Retrieval Symposium, NASA
CP-3134, January 1992.
2. Stein, Bland A.: "An Interim Overview of LDEF Materials Findings," NASA TM-107664,
August 1992.
3. Bohnhoff-Hlavacek, Gail: "Databases For LDEF Results," Second LDEF Post-Retrieval
Symposium, NASA CP-3194, Part 3, April 1993, pp. 1223-1233.
861
LDEF
Materials &
Systems
Data
MAPTIS
1! 1I I I I I I
_40 lie O0 100 Im
Mini Space
databases Researcher/
Figure 1. LDEF Materials databasing approach.
862
User Request Form for the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF)
Materials Mini-Databases
Date:___J____/
Format: IBM-compatibleor Macintosh
(runs on Clads Corporation's FileMaker_ Pro version 2.0 or later software)
Databases requested:
LDEF Optical Materials Database
LDEF Treated Aluminum Database
LDEF Thermal Control Coatings Database
LDEF Silverized Teflon® Database
LDEF Environment Database
Name"
Company:
Address:
City: State:
Phone Number: ( ). -
Zip Code:
Complete and return this form along with one High Density Diskette (1.44MB) for
each database requested to Gary Pippin, Boeing Defense & Space Group, P.O. Box
3999, M/S 82-32 , Seattle, WA 98124. If you have any questions contact Gary
Pippin (206)773-2846 or Joan Funk at (804)864-3092.
Figure 2. Request form for the mini-databases.
863
User Request Form for the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF)
Materials Database on
the Materials and ProcessesTechnical Information System (MAPTIS)
Date: _____J /
Employee Name:
(first) (mi) (last)
Company/Mail Code:
Work Address:
City:. State:
Office Telephone Number: (__.)_ -
Do you have access to a NETWORK? (Yes/No)
Check one only:
Govt Contractor
Bamsi/BCSS Programmer
Industry User
EH02 Personnel
Zip Code:
FAX: (m). -
Network:
NASA (MSFC)
NASA (other)
Signature Date: / /__
Do Not Write Below This Line- System Information
User name:
Password:
NPSS/PSCN ID:
Creation Date:
Deletion Date:
/ /
/ / By:
Uic:[. _, ]
Initial Password:
By:
Complete and fax this form to Rene Hitson at (205)544-5786. If you have any
questions contact Rene Hitson at (205)544-6972 or Joan Funk at (804)864-3092.
Figure 3. Request form for the MAPTIS version of the LDEF Materials Database.
864
User Request Form for the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF)
Materials Database in the M/VISION ® Format
Date: ____ /. /
Employee Name:
(first) (mi) (last)
Company/Mail Code:
Work Address:
City: State:
Office Telephone Number: C__), -
Do you have access to a NETWORK? (Yes/No)
Check one only:
Govt Contractor
Bamsi/BCSS Programmer
Signature
Industry User
EH02 Personnel
Zip Code:
FAX: (._) -
Network:
NASA (MSFC)
NASA (other)
Date: / /
Do Not Write Below This Line- System Information
User name:
Password:
NPSS/PSCN ID:
Creation Date:
Deletion Date:
Uic:[ , ]
/ /
/ / By:
Initial Password:
By:
Complete and fax this form to Rene Hitson at (205)544-5786. If you have any
questions contact Rene Hitson at (205)544-6972 or Joan Funk at (804)864-3092.
Figure 4. Request form for the M/VISION version of the LDEF Materials Database.
oU.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1995-62_-064-23071
865


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69 Months In Space:
Third LDEF Post-Retrieval Symposium
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Arlene S. Levine, Editor
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NASA Langley Research Center
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This volume is a compilation of papers presented at the Third Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) Post-
Retrieval Symposium. The papers represent the data analysis of the 57 experiments flown on the LDEF. The
experiments include materials, coatings, thermal systems, power and propulsion, science (cosmic ray, interstellar
gas, heavy ions, micrometeoroid, etc.), electronics, optics, and life science. In addition, papers on preliminary data
analysis of EURECA, EOIM-3, and other spacecraft are included.
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