ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of selected topics on spacecraft particulate contamination phenomena. It discusses the characterization of surface particulate contamination in terms of obscuration ratio (OR), or particle area coverage, as well as correlation between OR and the Military-Standard-1246B cleanliness level. The chapter also discusses spacecraft contamination due to vibroacoustically induced particle suspension and redistribution in the space shuttle payload bay or in the payload fairing cavity of an expendable launch vehicle during ascent flight. It describes thermo-optical surface performance degradation due to particulate contamination. These particulate contamination topics are important to spacecraft system design with stringent requirements to maintain thermal and optical system performance aboard the spacecraft during mission flight. Sample prediction results are included in the chapter to demonstrate the analytical models. A realistic assessment of the surface particulate contamination effects on spacecraft thermo-optical subsystems should be gauged by the severity of deposit-induced performance degradation, such as solar absorptance increase.
