Trent M. Smith

Characterization of polyimide foams after exposure to extreme weathering conditions

The weathering degradation of three closely related polyimide foams was studied by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA) after exposure at the NASA Kennedy Space Centers (KSC) Beach Corrosion Site. These foams were developed by NASA Langley Research Center for applications such as cryogenic insulation, flame retardant panels and structural subcomponents. The degradative environmental conditions at the KSC corrosion site include exposure to sunlight, exposure to changes in temperature and humidity, mechanical erosion by wind and rain, and high sodium chloride content due to the close proximity of the ocean. Other possible atmospheric contaminants include hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen chloride (the latter originating with exhausts from the launching of space vehicles). The foams were studied for a total of 17 months exposure, with samples taken at 3, 9 and 17 months. Data analyses of the weathered foams showed that chemical structure and density effects were the key variables in weathering performance. The carbonyl linkage in the dianhydride of the TEEK-L series polyimide foams is the most important factor in degradation. TEEK-H series foams, which contain an ether linkage in the dianhydride, showed much less degradation or more resistance to weathering in comparison to the TEEK-L series. In the same chemical series, the lower density foams were more degraded in comparison to higher density foams.

VEG-01: Veggie Hardware Validation Testing on the International Space Station

Abstract The Veggie vegetable production system was launched to the International Space Station with three sets of test plants for an initial hardware validation test, designated VEG-01. VEG-01A and B featured the crop ‘Outredgeous’ red romaine lettuce, while VEG-01C tested ‘Profusion’ zinnia plants for longer duration growth and flowering characteristics. Irrigation of plants in all three growth studies presented a challenge, with lettuce suffering from inadequate water and zinnia suffering from excess water. Direct plant pillow watering by crew members enabled plant growth, and returned samples from the first crop, VEG-01A, indicated that food safety was acceptable. VEG-01B plants at harvest were split to allow for on-orbit crew consumption as well as science sample return. Direct-watered zinnias suffered fungal growth and other physiological stresses, but two plants survived and these produced numerous flowers. The VEG-01 series allowed a large amount of data on system performance, human factors, procedures, microbiology, and chemistry of space-grown plants to be gathered. Observations from these tests are helping to drive future hardware modifications and provide information on food crop growth and development in a microgravity environment.