Mir Window Survey

Objectives

The objectives of this investigation were to collect photographic and video data of the optical windows on the Mir Complex and to analyze the collected data for estimating the optical degradation , as well as documenting the existing condition of the window surfaces. The results from these survey studies are expected to serve as baseline data for window service life issues on the International Space Station.

Mir Window Survey was a first of its kind to photo document the condition of optical windows. Mir Complex has a total of 30 different windows in various modules. Some windows have been exposed to the space environment for about 12 years and some windows have been exposed to the space environment for about three years.

Shuttle-Mir Missions
NASA-5 - NASA-7

Approach
Acquisition of photographic data was performed with both 35 mm Nikon-F3 film camera using various zoom lenses, and video survey data of the window panes and window housing was collected using video cameras.

Results
Data for a total of eight different windows were collected during three different missions (NASA-5, 6, and 7) as a specific NASA-Mir Mission Science objective. Other missions collected window data as a part of their Earth Observations. Most exterior window panes showed contamination deposits, Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) impacts, and other degradations (scuff marks and scratches).

Most interior window panes and interior window housing were found to be in remarkably good condition. Most exterior window panes showed significant damage due to MMOD impacts, external contamination deposits, and other degradations (scuff marks); some could have been EVA related.

Publications
GeoCarto International Special Edition - (expected) September 1999.

Principal Investigators
Kamlesh P. Lulla, Ph.D.
NASA/Johnson Space Center

Stainslav Savachinko, Ph.D.
RSC/Energia

Co-Investigators
Premkumar B. Saganti, Ph.D.
Ivan Firsov, Ph.D.
Gregory J. Byrne, Ph.D.
Jon Disler
Cindy Evans, Ph.D.

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Page last updated: 07/16/1999