Study of Cosmic Dust Particles on Board LDEF and MIR Space Station

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Interplanetary and near-earth space contains solid objects whose size distribution continuously covers the interval from submicron sized particles to km sized asteroids or comets. Two French experiments partly devoted to the detection of cosmic dust have been flown recently in space. One on the NASA Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF), and one on the Soviet MIR Space Station. A variety of sensors and collecting devices will make possible the study of cosmic particles after recovery of exposed material. Flux mass distribution is expected to be derived from craters counts, with a good accuracy. Remnants of particles, suitable for chemical identification are expected to be found within stacked foil detectors. Discrimination between extraterrestrial particles and man-made orbital debris will be possible.

Origins and Spatial Distribution of Non-Pure Sulfate Particles (NSPs) in the Stratosphere Detected by the Balloon-Borne Light Optical Aerosols Counter (LOAC)

“…Finally, attempts to collect dust from space entering the Earth's atmosphere were made from Gemini 10, Skylab, Salyut 7, and Mir space stations, and from the retrieval of space exposed surfaces of satellites. The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) was exposed for almost 6 years at altitudes ranging from 580 to 332 km, and provided evidence for cosmic dust particles [65][66][67] that do enter the Earth's atmosphere.…”

“…The flux and the size distribution of incoming material from space is strongly underestimated when considering measurements from space and model calculations. In particular, the size distribution estimated from impacts on exposed surfaces in space [65][66][67] could be inaccurate. Some particles produced by the Chelyabinsk meteor disintegration could remain longer than expected in the stratosphere.…”