Space Object Gerontology
Abstract
The proposed research aims to investigate the effects of the space environment, especially nongravitational forces such as solar radiation pressure, thermal emissions, and charged particle interactions on spacecraft. Particularly, this research will focus on understanding the temporal degradation and aging of space object materials under the influence of the local space environment, and investigate methods to detect and quantify such changes. We aim to conduct experiments on the ground under simulated and empirical space weather conditions using AFRLs state of the art facilities such as the Material Aging and Spacecraft Charging Laboratory. Techniques such as photoacoustic sensing and shape independent light curve inversion analysis shall be employed to remotely detect material properties and surface characteristics of space objects. The research will be carried out under the Computational Astronautical Sciences and Technologies (a.k.a. The CAST1) research group at the University of Texas at Austin, thus leveraging computational resources that shall be used to develop high fidelity computer models to predict such behavior from a fundamental first principles approach. Results derived from this research shall aid in debris mitigation by providing a better understanding of how the space environment effects material properties, and aid space object characterization and anomaly detection research, thereby enhancing the domain of space situational awareness.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 14, 2022
- Source ID
- FA95501910393
Entities
People
- Moriba Jah
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Texas at Austin