Apollo Experience Report Window Contamination.

Abstract

The problem of window contamination in the Apollo command module is reviewed. All five command module windows were contaminated while in earth orbit on the first three manned Apollo flights. The contamination sources were identified and eliminated. Preflight testing of lunar module windows showed that no serious contamination should occur, and this conclusion was verified in subsequent manned flights. In this report, the command module window designs and materials are described, the window-contamination sources are identified, and the inflight and chemical analyses of the contamination are outlined. The corrective actions that were taken are reviewed. For the lunar module, the window design and materials and the preflight and flight evaluations are described. Window-design recommendations are made.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1972
Accession Number
ADA309394

Entities

People

  • L. J. Leger
  • R. W. Bricker

Organizations

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Analysis
  • Contamination
  • Earth Orbits
  • Flight
  • Inflight
  • Materials
  • Orbits

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Environmental Engineering.
  • Solar Photovoltaics and Thermoelectric Devices.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris