Exposing Materials to the Space Environment

iss013e63407 (August 3, 2006) --- The Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE-3 and 4) is shown attached to the outside of the space station. This investigation exposed potential space construction materials and different types of solar cells to the harsh space environment. After a year, the samples returned to Earth to undergo further analysis and inform the creation of stronger, more durable materials for future spacecraft.