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Materials International Space Station Experiment - 3 and 4 (MISSE-3 and 4)
06.26.08

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

Experiment/Payload Overview

Brief Summary

Materials on the International Space Station Experiment 3 and 4 (MISSE - 3 and 4) are the third and fourth in a series of five suitcase-sized test beds attached to the outside of the space station. The beds were deployed during a spacewalk by the station crew in August 2006. They are exposing hundreds of potential space construction materials and different types of solar cells to the harsh environment of space. Mounted to the space station for about a year, the equipment then will be returned to Earth for study. Investigators will use the resulting data to design stronger, more durable spacecraft.

Principal Investigator

  • William H. Kinard, Ph.D., Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA

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

    No Information Available

    Payload Developer


    Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL
    Phantom Works, Boeing, Renton, WA
    Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA

    Sponsoring Agency

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

    Expeditions Assigned

    |13|14|15|

    Previous ISS Missions

    MISSE-1 and 2, the first of the MISSE series were delivered to the 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-115/12A in September 2006.

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    Experiment/Payload Description

    Research Summary

    • MISSE-3 and 4 will assess impacts of the space environment (vacuum, solar radiation, atomic oxygen, micrometeorites and thermal cycling, etc.) on materials.


    • MISSE-3 and 4 contains approximately 875 specimens of various materials contained in suitcase-like cases called PECs (passive experiment containers) mounted directly to the outside of ISS. The samples represent 40 different investigators including NASA centers, military space organizations, aerospace contractors and manufacturers. The specimens include a variety of materials such as paint and protective coatings that will be used on future spacecraft and satellites.

    Description

    The samples for MISSE-3 and 4 include over 400 new and affordable materials that may be used in advanced reusable launch systems and advanced spacecraft systems including optics, sensors, electronics, power, coatings, structural materials and protection for the next generation of spacecraft. The development of new generations of materials and material technologies is essential to mission of traveling beyond Earth's orbit. The samples are installed in holders (passive experiment contatiners (PECs) and placed in experiment trays. MISSE PECs 3 and 4 are scheduled for deployment during stage ULF1.1.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Results will provide a better understanding of the durability of various materials when they are exposed to the space environment. Many of the materials may have applications in the design of future spacecraft.

    Earth Applications

    The new advanced materials and components that will be demonstrated in MISSE-3 and 4 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. The participation of school children in experiments with seeds from the MISSE-3 and 4 will stimulate their interest in science and can help to ensure the U.S. leadership role in future space operations.

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    MISSE-3 and 4 is mounted to the Station's exterior on the airlock. It is a passive experiment requiring no power or crew interaction. The critical interaction is between the samples and the space environment.

    Operational Protocols

    During extravehicular activity astronauts will install the MISSE PEC 3 and 4 on the ISS. During EVAs throughout the deployment of MISSE PEC 3 and 4 crewmembers will capture snapshots of the MISSE PECs, if time permits. Another set of crewmembers in a later increment will retrieve MISSE-3 and 4 when the experiment is completed. The samples will be returned to the investigators, who will carefully examine each to determine how the materials fared.

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    Results/More Information

    No Information Available

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    Related Web Sites
  • Engineering Research and Technology

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    Publications

    Results Publications

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      Related Publications
      • de Groh KK, Banks BA, Hammerstrom AM, Youngstrom EE, Kaminski C, Marx LM, Fine ES. MISSE PEACE Polymers: An International Space Station Environmental Exposure Experiment. NASA TM. ;2001-211311. 2001
      • Dever J, Miller S, Messer R, Sechkar E., Tollis G. Exposure of Polymer Film Thermal Control Materials on the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE). NASA TM. ;2002-211363. 2002

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      Images

      imageNASA Image: 2002-L-02093 - Closeup image of Tray 1 of MISSE PEC 3 loaded with samples on Earth.
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      imageNASA Image: 2002-L-02076 - Closeup image of Tray 2 of MISSE PEC 4 loaded with samples on Earth.
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      imageNASA Image ISS013E63407 - MISSE 3 following deployment on the outside of ISS on August 3, 2006.
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      imageNASA Image ISS013E63396: Image of MISSE 4 following deployment on the outside of ISS on August 3, 2006.
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      imageNASA Image: S116E06941 - This image of the MISSE-3 Passive Experiment Container (PEC) was taken on December 18, 2006. At this point, MISSE-3 has been exposed to the space environment for approximately 4 months.
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      imageNASA Image: ISS015E19091 - This image of the MISSE-3 Tray 1 Passive Experiment Container (PEC) was taken in July 2007. At this point, MISSE-3 has been exposed to the space environment for approximately 11 months.
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      imageNASA Image; ISS015E19092- This image of Tray 2 of the MISSE-3 Passive Experiment Container (PEC) was taken in July 2007. At this point, MISSE-3 has been exposed to the space environment for approximately 11 months.
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      imageNASA Image: ISS015E19071- This image of Tray 2 of the MISSE-4 Passive Experiment Container (PEC) was taken in July 2007. At this point, MISSE-3 has been exposed to the space environment for approximately 11 months.
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      imageNASA Image: ISS015E19102- This image of Tray 1 of the MISSE-4 Passive Experiment Container (PEC) was taken in July 2007. At this point, MISSE-3 has been exposed to the space environment for approximately 11 months.
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      Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office
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