DEBIE2 (Debris-in-orbit-evaluator) on board of ISS: results from the impact data and post-flight analysis

Paper number

IAC-12,A6,1,11,x14855

Author

Dr. Alessandra Menicucci, ESA/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Dr. Gerhard Drolshagen, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Juha Kuitunen, Patria Systems Oy, Finland

Coauthor

Mr. Cathal Mooney, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Yuriy Butenko, ESA/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Year

2012

Abstract

DEBIE2 (Debris-in-orbit-evaluator) was launched in February 2008 as part of the European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF) and installed on the exterior of Columbus on ISS.  DEBIE2 is an active detector, composed by 3 sensor units that monitor dust and debris flux. Each DEBIE sensor consists of 2 sets of wire electrodes sensitive to the plasma generated by impacting particles, mounted in front of a thin aluminium foil. On the foil there are also 2 piezoelectric sensors which measure the momentum transferred by an impacting particle. If the particle penetrates the foil, this can be detected by a third electron plasma detector located just behind the foil. 
EuTEF and DEBIE2 were retrieved on 1st September and returned to Earth with the Space Shuttle Mission STS-128.
In this paper, the results of the analysis of impact data will be  presented,
as well as the results of the post-flight inspection (optical and chemical analysis) carried out on the one DEBIE2 sensor that after retrivial presented a broken wire as a result of an impact.

Abstract document

IAC-12,A6,1,11,x14855.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-12,A6,1,11,x14855.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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