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5 eV Atomic Oxygen Testing Services

PSI offers 5 eV Atomic Oxygen Testing for LEO Operations

Tunable 2 – 11 eV Atomic Oxygen Source for LEO Testing

PSI utilizes its FAST™ laser detonation technology to produce a high flux/fluence beam of 5 eV atomic oxygen (AO) to measure the erosion rate of materials under consideration for use in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The FAST™ source is recognized as the gold standard in testing materials for erosion by 5 eV AO encountered in LEO. FAST™ provides accelerated testing/qualification of materials with 1 day of testing providing up to the equivalent of the AO fluence experienced in 140 days at the International Space Station (ISS: 400 km altitude). PSI provides quotes for AO testing based upon the quantity and size of test articles, which determines the needed exposure area (100 – 2000 cm²), and the required AO fluence. Typically the specified AO fluence ranges from 2×10²⁰ to 2.5×10²¹ AO/cm2 corresponding to ~ 1 month to 1 year at the ISS.

Key Features

AO fluences to 10²¹ /cm² routine
Available AO velocity range: 5 – 12 km/s (2 eV – 11 eV)
Treatment area: 100 – 2000 cm²
Sample temperature controlled: 0 – 80 C routine
Mass loss precision: 1 µg/10 µg for samples weighing less than 250 mg/1000 mg, respectively
Source operates at 3 Hz for AO testing