The use of molecular adsorbers for spacecraft contamination control

Abstract

In recent years, the technologies associated with contamination control in space environments have grown increasingly more sophisticated, due to the ever expanding need for improving and enhancing optical and thermal control systems for spacecraft. The presence of contaminants in optical and thermal control systems can cause serious degradation of performance and/or impact the lifetime of a spacecraft. It has been a goal of the global contamination community to develop new and more effective means for controlling contamination for spacecraft. This paper describes an innovative method for controlling molecular contaminants in space environments, via the utilization of Molecular Adsorbers. It has been found that the incorporation of appropriate molecular adsorbing materials within spacecraft volumes will decrease the overall contamination level within the cavity, thereby decreasing the potential for contaminants to migrate to more critical areas. In addition, it has been found that the placement of a Molecular Adsorber at a vent location actually serves as a molecular ‘‘trap’’ for the contaminants that would have otherwise been vented into the external spacecraft environment. This paper summarizes the theory, basic design, planned applications and significant results already obtained during the investigation of using Molecular Adsorbers for spacecraft contamination control purposes.