IMPROVEMENTS, MAINTENANCE AND REFURBISHMENT

THIS RESEARCH ADDRESSES TECHNIQUES AND MATERIALS FOR ON-ORBIT MAINTENANCE AND REFURBISHMENT OF THERMAL CONTROL SURFACE COATINGS USED ON LONG-LIFE SPACECRAFT. IN MANY CASES, CONSERVATIVE ASSUMPTIONS ON THE EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM DEGRADATION HAVE DRIVEN THE DESIGN OF SPACECRAFT THERMAL SYSTEMS TOWARD OVER CAPACITY WHICH RESULTS IN WEIGHT, SIZE, COMPLEXITY, AND COST PENALTIES. IF CRITICAL SURFACES COULD BE MAINTAINED AND PERIODICALLY RENEWED EFFECTIVELY ON-ORBIT SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT OBTAINED. THE PERFORMANCE OF COATINGS ON SPACECRAFT PREVIOUSLY FLOWN AND THEIR DEGRADATION MECHANISMS WILL BE ANALYZED AND THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM TRADESTUDIES CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE REFURBISHMENT REQUIREMENTS. THESE WILL BE THE BASIS FOR EVALUATING THE FEASIBILITY OF REFURBISHMENT TECHNIQUES SUCH AS ON-ORBIT PAINT SPRAYING, ABRASIVE CLEANING, CHEMICALLY REACTIVE COATINGS, NEW SURFACEADHESIVE BONDING, POLISHING, ELECTROSTATIC APPLICATION, SELF CLEANING COATING, AND SOLVENT WIPING.