Results of the Komplast experiment on the long-term exposure of materials specimens on the ISS surface. Issue 10 (15th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shumov, A.E.; Novikov, L.S.; Shaevich, S.K.; Aleksandrov, N.G.; Smirnova, T.N.; Nikishin, E.F.; Chernik, V.N.; Petukhov, V.P.; Voronina, E.N.; Sedov, V.V.; Salnikova, I.A.; Babaevskiy, P.G.; Kozlov, N.A.; Deev, I.S.; Startsev, O.V.; Shindo, D.J.; Golden, J.L.; Kravchenko, M.
• Is Part Of: Advances in space research. Volume 56:Issue 10(2015)
• Page Start: 2188
• Page End: 2195
• Publication Date: 2015-11-15
• Subjects: Spacecraft materials -- Space environment -- In-flight experiment -- Long-duration exposure; Space sciences -- Periodicals; Astronautics -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 500.505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2015.08.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0273-1177

Abstract

Abstract: The Komplast materials experiment was designed by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center together with Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University and other Russian scientific institutes, and has been carried out by Mission Control Moscow since 1998. The purpose of this experiment is to study the complex effect of the low Earth orbit environment on samples of various spacecraft materials. On November 20, 1998 the Komplast experiment began with the launch of the first International Space Station module Zarya, or Functional Cargo Block (FGB). Eight Komplast panels with samples of materials and sensors were installed on the outer surface of FGB module. Two of eight experiment panels were retrieved during Russian extravehicular activity in February 2011 after 12 years of space exposure and were subsequently returned to Earth by Space Shuttle "Discovery" on the STS-133/ULF-5 mission in March 2011. The article presents the results obtained from this unique long-duration experiment on board of the International Space Station.