P.H. Irace, R.D. Reeves, M.S. Roberts
ISS National Laboratory, Florida, United States
Keywords: Space exposure, material degradation, radiation, atomic oxygen, thermal cycling
The space environment provides an ideal domain for testing the stability and durability of materials. Materials exposed to the harsh space environment in low Earth orbit (LEO) are subject to atomic oxygen (AO) erosion, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, ionizing radiation, vacuum, thermal cycling, and temperature extremes. The International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory offers an ideal platform for long-term exposure to the extreme space environment in LEO, particularly because power, data, and imaging can be provided in-situ and samples can be returned to Earth for postflight analysis and comparison to ground samples. In this work, we will introduce the damage mechanisms present in the extreme space environment. We will discuss how the magnitude of each damage mechanism is affected by sample orientation. We will present case studies of materials and devices for both space- and Earth-based applications that were investigated using ISS external platforms, including the performance of 3D photovoltaic cells, perovskites, and polymers. We will also discuss translational lessons learned from space-exposure experiments that inform and direct terrestrial research and manufacturing. Finally, we will present opportunities for future space-exposure experiments and access to ISS facilities through the ISS National Lab.