Control of Contaminants Around Spacecraft.
Abstract
A high temperature octopole/collision cell apparatus (HT8P) was developed, along with the required cooling/power feedthroughs and modified 'injector lens'. The radio frequency operating characteristics of the HT8P were optimized, and the collision cell effective interaction length was determined in a series of calibration experiments. The well known Ar(+) + D2 right arrow ArD(+) + D reaction was used in the calibration experiments, in which the HT8P was operated at temperatures up to 630 K (675 deg). The collision cell gas density versus temperature dependence for measurements with a capacitance manometer was modeled theoretically and verified experimentally using the same reaction. This dependence, due too thermal transpiration, provided additional evidence of the accuracy of the temperature measurement, which is a critical aspect in obtaining accurate cross sections for reactions of metal atoms. The PL/GPID GIB instrument was used to continue the study of ion-molecule reactions that play a significant role in the low earth orbit spacecraft environment. One of the important reactions comprises collisions of atomic oxygen ions and water molecules. The extension of the study of these reactions to those with heavy water has been concluded.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 06, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA324375
Entities
People
- Dale J. Levandier
- Skip Williams