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