ASSESSMENT OF MIR ORBITAL STATION EXTERNAL CONDITION USING SPACE SHUTTLE PHOTOGRAPHIC AND VIDEO IMAGERY

摘要

This paper presents the results of photographic and video surveys conducted on the Mir Space Station during six Space Shuttle missions from STS-63 in February 1995 to STS-81 in January 1997. The imagery data taken during these missions has been used to produce both qualitative and quantitative assessments of external deposition and contamination, surface degradation, dynamic events, and micrometeoroid and orbital debris strikes. The imagery was used to assess and verify the configuration of the Mir. During these six missions, over 20 areas of surface damage and discoloration have been identified. These include: solar array damage, surface and thermal protection blanket damage and discoloration, flaking paint coating of a radiator, etc. In addition, over 50 potential micrometeoroid/orbital debris strikes have been identified, with damage area ranges up to 25 cm~2. Finally, several dynamic events, including solar array motion, free-floating debris, and thruster plume effects were characterized. Photographs of the Mir modules which illustrate these observations and measurements are included in the paper. This paper also addresses the general "lessons learned" from analysis of Mir imagery that can be applied to the International Space Station (ISS). The photographic and video data confirm the general good condition of the external surfaces of the Mir. However, there are unanticipated degradations of the on-orbit performance of the hardware, and these have a direct bearing on the design and successful operation of the ISS.