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Experiment/Payload Overview

Brief Summary

Flux (Phi) Probe Experiment - Time resolved Measurement of Atomic Oxygen (FIPEX) is a system which is able to distinguish and measure molecular and atomic oxygen at very low ambient pressures. It is based on solid oxide electrolyte microsensors.

Principal Investigator

Stefanos Fasoulas, Ph.D., University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

Tino Schmiel, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany

Payload Developer

Technische Universitaet Dresden, Institute for Aerospace Engineering, Dresden, Germany

Sponsoring Agency

European Space Agency (ESA)

Expeditions Assigned

|16|17|18|19|20|

Previous ISS Missions

Information Pending

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Experiment/Payload Description

Research Summary

• Flux (Phi) Probe Experiment - Time resolved Measurement of Atomic Oxygen (FIPEX) will provide the first long term measurements of atomic and molecular oxygen distribution in low Earth Orbit (LEO) over a long mission time.

Description

Because drag of space vehicles in low earth orbit is mainly influenced by the density of the flow, it is important to know the conditions on hand relatively exact. However, because the solar radiation and the Earth's magnetic and gravitational field influence the atmosphere's composition, the exact constitution at a given point depends upon many different parameters, which include long-term, short-term and spatial variations. Especially the flux of atomic oxygen is of general importance as it shows different interactions with spacecraft surfaces, e.g. erosion of the surface material. With the FIPEX micro-sensor system, it is intended to measure the atomic oxygen flux as well as the oxygen molecules in the surrounding of the International Space Station. Especially the flux of atomic oxygen is of general importance as it shows different interactions with spacecraft surfaces, e.g. erosion of the surface material. The scientific objectives of the experiment FIPEX on ISS are in summary:

• Measurement of atomic oxygen flux in low earth orbit over a long period of time.


• Investigation of the Space Station contamination in thrusting periods and during proximity operations of the logistic vehicles. This experiment would give a time resolved determination of the contamination of satellite structures in space.


• Investigation of the behavior of the ceramic solid electrolyte and the different electrode coatings during exposure to the space environment.

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Applications

Space Applications

Information Pending

Earth Applications

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Operations

Operational Requirements

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Operational Protocols

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Results/More Information

Information Pending

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Related Web Sites

University of Dresden

Columbus Mission - European Experiment Programme

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Publications

Results Publications

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Related Publications

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Images

FIPEX hardware, image courtesy of ESA.
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FIPEX System consisting of two sensor units, image courtesy of ESA.
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FIPEX integrated on EuTEF platform, image courtesy of ESA.
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NASA Images: s124e010226 (background) and s123e009654 (foreground): This image shows the location along with a close up view of the European Space Agency?s European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF) platform located externally on the Columbus module. EuTEF houses nine experiments including Flux (Phi) Probe Experiment - Time resolved Measurement of Atomic Oxygen (FIPEX).
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Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office