Published August 15, 1985 | Version v1
Journal article

Low earth orbit environmental effects on osmium and related optical thin-film coatings

  • 1. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

Description

A number of samples of optical thin film materials were flown on Shuttle flight STS-8 as part of an experiment to evaluate their interaction with residual atomic oxygen in low earth orbit. Osmium was selected because of its usefulness as a reflective optical coating for far-UV instruments and for confirmation of results from previous Shuttle flights in which such coatings disappeared. Reflectance data and photographic evidence are presented to support the hypothesis that the osmium disappearance is due to reaction with oxygen to form a volatile oxide. Platinum and iridium, which were included for comparison, fared much better

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Appl. Opt.
Journal Volume
24
Journal Issue
16
Series
Appl. Opt.
Journal Page Range
2660-2665
ISSN
0003-6935
CODEN
APOPA

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
United States
INIS RN
17012304
Subject category
S36: MATERIALS SCIENCE;
Descriptors DEI
COATINGS; IRIDIUM; OSMIUM; OXIDATION; OXYGEN; PLATINUM; THIN FILMS
Descriptors DEC
CHEMICAL REACTIONS; ELEMENTS; FILMS; METALS; NONMETALS; PLATINUM METALS; TRANSITION ELEMENTS