Test for contamination of MgF2 - coated mirrors

Abstract

Graphs show preflight and postflight reflectivities in percent for exposed and covered mirrors carried on the OSS-1 payload pallet during STS-3. No changes greater than 1.8 sigma were observed except for a fingerprint. Weak evidence for degradation at 1216 A and 1600 A was found in several samples. There was no difference between flight mirrors and control mirrors. Covered samples suffered more than samples exposed to the Sun, but the differences are barely significant. The exposed side of the flight mirrors were somewhat dusty. No evidence was found for permanent solar-induced or shuttle-induced deterioration. There also was no evidence on oil-pumped vacuum versus oil-free vacuum during coating