ORBITAL DEBRIS AS DETECTED ON EXPOSED SPACECRAFT

Spacecraft surfaces returned to the laboratory after being exposed to the low Earth orbit (LEO) environment have been examined by Scanning E lectron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX) over the last two decades. Although many of these surfaces were not intended to be used as hypervelocity impact capture medium, meteoroid and orbital deb ris particles colliding with exposed surfaces are well documented. Thi s paper will address the more predominant impact damage caused by orbi tal debris on the spacecraft hardware analyzed at the Johnson Space Ce nter over the last decade.