LDEF Intercostal Data and Plots
Individuals at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) have completed detailed scans of 48 frame components (i.e., Intercostals) from LDEF in an attempt to provide a reliable crater-size frequency for craters > 40 microns in diameter. The advantage of using these aluminum 6061-T6 structural frame components relates to the fact that comparable amounts of surface area were exposed in each of LDEF's 12 principal pointing directions. In addition, these frame components possessed a relatively smooth surface, when compared to other LDEF hardware (e.g., experiment-tray clamps). The low surface roughness permitted the identification and documentation of smaller impact features.
- Intercostals - Counts and associated exposed surface area for individual Intercostals.
- By Rows - Counts and associated exposed surface areas for Rows of Intercostals.
- Map showing locations of Intercostals included within the two data sets (11.3 kb).
Data Plots
Click on the thumbnail image below to view the full-sized version of these figures. The data utilized to generate the first two figures can be accessed by selecting the download data link in the figure description.
Graph of cratering frequency for LDEF's 12 major pointing directions as determined from LDEF's frame (i.e., Intercostals)
Graph of average cratering frequency for the four Cardinal pointing directions as determined from LDEF's frame (i.e., Intercostals)
Comparison of the observed cratering frequencies for LDEF Intercostals and the S0001 (Space Debris Impact) Experiment
Cratering frequency as determined from the A0178 Thermal Blankets (19.8 kb)
Projectile chemistries from A0187 (Chemistry of Micrometeoroids Experiment) and some of LDEF's tray clamps
Projectile chemistries for unusually high particle flux on Intercostal F07F02
