In-orbit measurements with contamination-monitoring instruments are used to validate the MSX contamination model and to investigate the phenomenon of molecular and particle generation in space. Results from the first orbit contact through the first 10 months are presented. Early operations reporting tools to perform rapid assessments are also presented. The contamination levels and their decay rates, especially of water vapor around the spacecraft, are presented and compared with pre-launch predictions. Finally, a discussion is presented of how the MSX contamination instruments will be used to validate the phenomenon of the "aging" spacecraft and to further investigate degradation of thermal radiators.
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