Structural and Mechanical Properties of Glass-Carbon Coatings after an Extended Stay on the International Space Station (ISS)

Spherical sensors with glassy carbon coatings for measurement of electric fields in near-Earth plasma on board satellites

“…After their return to Earth, the eight test specimens (Figure 5c) with a glassy carbon coating that had been kept for 28 months on the exterior of the International Space Station were investigated and their characteristics were compared with those of reference samples stored for the same period of time in terrestrial conditions. The obtained results of the research within the framework of the experiment on board the ISS make it possible to evaluate the changes in the structure and texture of glassy carbon material and also to establish the extent of these changes that can have impact on the properties of spherical probes with glassy carbon coating on their working surfaces, in measurements of electric fields in the ionospheric-magnetospheric plasma 31 .…”

“…Within the framework of the international project "Obstanovka -1 step", another experiment was established, with two identical devices DP1 and DP2, in the composition of the plasma wave complex PWC1 and PWC2 (Figure 5) 30 , using sensors with glassy carbon coating on their working surface. His set is a study of the dynamics of the potential of the station hull (ISS), depending on the solar and geomagnetic activity, the activities of the astronauts, especially during their work on its surface, during corrections of its orbit, as well as during jumping and undocking of spacecraft with the station 29,31 .…”