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Materials International Space Station Experiment - 8 (MISSE-8)
05.23.12

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Experiment/Payload Overview

Brief Summary

The Materials on International Space Station Experiment - 8 (MISSE-8) is a test bed for materials and computing elements attached to the outside of the International Space Station (ISS). These materials and computing elements are being evaluated for the effects of atomic oxygen, ultraviolet, direct sunlight, radiation, and extremes of heat and cold. This experiment allows the development and testing of new materials and computing elements that can better withstand the rigors of space environments. Results will provide a better understanding of the durability of various materials and computing elements when they are exposed to the space environment, with applications in the design of future spacecraft.

Principal Investigator

  • Robert Walters, Ph.D., Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia), United States
  • Phillip Jenkins, , Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia), United States

    • Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

    Information Pending

    Payload Developer

    Johnson Space Center, United States Department of Defense Space Test Program, Houston, TX, United States

    Sponsoring Space Agency

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

    Sponsoring Organization:

    Information Pending

    ISS Expedition Duration:

    March 2011 - October 2013



    Expeditions Assigned

    27/28, 29/30, 31/32, 33/34, 35/36

    Previous ISS Missions

    NASA has conducted a series of space experiments to determine the best materials to survive in the space environment on Shuttle and Mir. MISSE-1 and 2 were delivered to ISS on STS-105 in August 2001 and returned on STS-114 in August 2005. MISSE-5 was deployed during STS-114 in August 2005 and returned on STS-115 in September 2006. MISSE-3 and 4 were delivered to ISS on STS-121 in July 2006 and returned on STS-118 in August 2007. MISSE-6A and 6B were delivered to the ISS on STS-123 in March 2008 and returned on STS-128 in September 2009. MISSE-7A and 7B were delivered to the ISS on STS-129 in November 2009, and were returned on STS-134 in May 2011.

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    Experiment/Payload Description

    Research Summary

    • The Materials on International Space Station Experiment - 8 (MISSE-8) assess impacts of the space environment (vacuum, solar radiation, atomic oxygen, micrometeorites and thermal cycling, etc.) on materials and processor elements.


    • Specimens include advanced solar cells, spacecraft materials, and lightweight computing devices and techniques, which will be tested during long-term exposure to the space environment.


    • Science data is downlinked via ISS communication link. Sample return will occur inside the SapceX Dragon capsule as part of the SpX-5 mission.

    Description

    The Materials on International Space Station Experiment - 8 (MISSE-8) is a suite of experiments that includes new and affordable materials and computing elements. The samples tested have potential use in advanced reusable launch systems and advanced spacecraft systems including solar cells, optics, sensors, electronics, power, coatings, structural materials and protection for the next generation of spacecraft. The development of the next generation of materials and computing technologies is essential to the mission of traveling beyond Earth?s orbit.

    The samples are installed in holders and placed in experiment trays within a Payload Experiment Container (PEC). MISSE-8 consists of one new PEC, as well as a smaller experiment called the Optical Reflector Materials Experiment III Ram/Wake (ORMatE-III R/W). The MISSE-8 PEC and ORMatE-III R/W both reuse the MISSE-7 mounting interface and power/data system infrastructure on the MISSE-7 ExPRESS Pallet Adapter (ExPA), which was previously integrated to the ISS on the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 2 (ELC-2) during the STS-129 mission. The orientation of the MISSE-8 PEC is zenith/nadir (space facing/Earth facing), and ORMatE-III R/W is ram/wake. MISSE-8 is the third experiment in the MISSE program to receive power directly from the ISS, and the second to use uplink/downlink capabilities on the ISS communication system to receive commands and downlink data.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Results will provide a better understanding of the durability of various materials and processing elements when they are exposed to the space environment. Many of the materials and processing elements may have applications in the design of future spacecraft. The new advanced materials and components that are being demonstrated in MISSE-8 will improve the performance, increase the useful life, and reduce the costs of future space operations of commercial weather, communication and Earth observation satellites that we all now depend on, as well as enhance solar cell technology.

    Earth Applications

    Additionally, the knowledge gained on the basic Atomic Oxygen (AO) oxidation mechanisms with materials may help make better fire retardant and rust resistant terrestrial materials. The knowledge gained on solar UV reactions with various materials may help make plastics products such as siding for houses more durable. The new advanced materials and components that are being demonstrated in MISSE-8 will improve the performance, increase the useful life, and reduce the costs of future space operations of commercial weather, communication and Earth observation satellites that we all now depend on, as well as enhance solar cell technology.

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    MISSE-8 will operate on the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 2 (ELC-2), which will be located on the S3 Truss Outboard Zenith site. MISSE-8 will reuse the mounting and power/data infrastructure on the MISSE-7 ExPRESS Pallet Adapter (ExPA). It requires power and data provided by the Station, but does not require crew interaction, other than at deployment and possibly retrieval. The critical interaction is between the samples and the space environment.

    Operational Protocols

    During extravehicular activity, astronauts installed the MISSE-8 PEC on the ISS during STS-134, and will install ORMatE-III R/W on the ISS during STS-135. During EVAs throughout the deployment of MISSE-8, crewmembers will capture snapshots of the PEC, if time permits. The MISSE-8 PEC and ORMatE-III R/W will be retrieved via EVA for return inside the SpaceX Dragon capsule as part of the SpX-5 mission.

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    Results/More Information

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    Related Web Sites
  • ISS Research Project - MISSE-8

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    Publications

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    Ground Based Results Publications

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    ISS Patent Publications

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    Related Publications

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    Images

    imageNASA Image: STS105-346-007 - Astronaut Patrick G. Forrester, during the second STS-105 extravehicular activity, prepares to work with the Materials International Space Station Experiment 1 and 2(MISSE-1 and 2). The experiment was installed on the outside of the Quest Airlock during the first extravehicular activity (EVA) of the STS-105 mission. MISSE will collect information on how different materials weather in the environment of space


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    imageNASA Image: ISS027E034946


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    imageNASA Image: S134E007636


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    imageNASA Image: ISS027E034943


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    imageNASA Image: S134E007604


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    Information provided by the investigation team to the ISS Program Scientist's Office.
    If updates are needed to the summary please contact JSC-ISS-Program-Science-Group. For other general questions regarding space station research and technology, please feel free to call our help line at 281-244-6187 or e-mail at JSC-ISS-Payloads-Helpline.
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