Electrostatic discharge induced thermo-optical degradation of optical solar reflectors (OSRs)

In a combined space environment (20-keV electrons and protons; UV), non-ITO-coated OSRs exhibited a 50% increase in alpha (thermal absorptivity) compared with a negligible increase for ITO-coated OSRs. The increase is attributed to ESD-induced degradation. The results of this study will allow thermal designers to more accurately predict the spacecraft on-orbit temperatures by taking into account ESD-induced degradation of the thermal-optical properties of OSRs.<
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