The objective of the Orbital Debris Collector (ODC) experiment is to capture hypervelocity orbital debris and natural micrometeoroid particles in such a fashion so that they can be returned to Earth and analyzed to determine their compositions. ODC will identify the compositional and textural makeup of captured materials (with an emphasis being placed on identifying man-made orbital debris particles), determine the mass distribution and absolute flux of the Mir environment, and examine particles in the 10 µm to millimeter size range. The ODC experiment utilizes SiO₂ Aerogel as a capture medium to decelerate the incoming particles and reduce the heating and shock stresses such particles normally are subjected to when impacting a solid medium. The Aerogel used in the ODC experiment is a translucent, extremely low-density (i.e., 0.02 g/cm³) material possessing a total sample weight of approximately 166 grams for all 72 tiles; individual tiles measured approximately 9.53 x 9.53 x 1.27 cm) . The ODC experiment was produced at the Johnson Space Center.