(LDEF) Archive System
NASA Langley Research Center
Hampton, Virginia
Experiments
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Last Update: February 10, 1998
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Experiment Title: Interplanetary Dust Experiment
Original Principal Investigator(s): Kassel, Mr. Phillip - Invest. Role: Original, Kassel, Mr. Phillip - Invest. Role: Present, Singer, Dr. S. Fred - Invest. Role: Original, Singer, Dr. S. Fred - Invest. Role: Present, Weinberg, Dr. Jerry - Invest. Role: Present, Wortman, Dr. James - Invest. Role: Original, Wortman, Dr. James - Invest. Role: Present, Stanley, John - Invest. Role: Original,
Experiment Description:The study of interplanetary dust historically has been plagued by the problem
of low data rates and therefore statistically inadequate data analyses. The
LDEF satellite permitted for the first time the flight of an experiment with a
large effective area, yielding data with which excellent statistical confidence
can be achieved. The LDEF IDE is unique in providing a time history of impacts
of micron-sized particles on six orthogonal faces of LDEF. The value of this
time-resolved data depends on and is enhanced by the proper operation of the
basic LDEF systems. Thus the value of the data is greatly enhanced when the
location and orientation of LDEF is know for each time of impact. The attitude
of LDEF was passively stabilized in a gravity-gradient mode and a
magnetically anchored viscous damper was used to dissipate roll, pitch, and
yaw motions. Finally the IDE used a standard LDEF Experiment Power and Data
System (EPDS) to collect and store data and also to provide a crystal derived
clock pulse (1 count every 13.1 seconds) for all IDE time measurements.
Several interplanetary spacecraft have reported anomalous concentrations of
very small cosmic dust grains coming from the general direction of the sun.
This has been interpreted as evidence for beta meteoroids, grains so small
that, after release from a parent body, they experience a radiation pressure
sufficient to modify the apparent mass of the sun. In the LDEF context, the
West panel should see beta meteoroids near sunset, the East near sunrise, the
space panel near noon. Additionally, it has been shown that a major source of
the interplanetary micrometeoroid environment is comets. Confirmation and
expansion of these results may give important insight into the cometary
phenomenon.
Photograph Classification: Flight
Associated Photograph(s):
LaRC - L90-10429
KSC - None
JSC - S32-78-026
LaRC - L90-13492
KSC - KSC-390C-1069.12
JSC - None
LaRC - L84-07004
KSC - KSC-384C-14.02
JSC - None
LaRC - L91-09090
KSC - KSC-390C-1558.02
JSC - None
LaRC - L90-10416
KSC - None
JSC - S32-77-065
LaRC - L84-07015
KSC - KSC-384C-15.01
JSC - None
LaRC - L90-10451
KSC - None
JSC - S32-78-100
LaRC - L90-13407
KSC - KSC-390C-1030.09
JSC - None
LaRC - L84-07005
KSC - KSC-384C-14.03
JSC - None
LaRC - L90-13440
KSC - KSC-390C-1033.10
JSC - None
LaRC - L84-07024
KSC - KSC-384C-15.10
JSC - None
LaRC - L92-21191
KSC - None
JSC - S32-S-284
LaRC - L90-10455
KSC - None
JSC - S32-82-044
LaRC - L91-11688
KSC - KSC-390C-2068.08
JSC - None
LaRC - L90-10387
KSC - None
JSC - S32-76-050
LaRC - L84-07001
KSC - KSC-384C-8.06
JSC - None
LaRC - L90-10366
KSC - None
JSC - S32-75-060
LaRC - L92-21191
KSC - None
JSC - S32-S-284
LaRC - L91-15678
KSC - KSC-390C-2065.07
JSC - None
LaRC - L84-06997
KSC - KSC-384C-8.04
JSC - None
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