Characterisation of contaminant deposit in the space environment

When subjected to the space environment, many satellite materials outgas molecules, known as contaminants, which can be transported and condense on sensitive satellite surfaces as films or clusters. Consequences of this contamination include loss of transmittance in optical instruments, reduced power in solar panels, and changes in the absorptivity coefficient of thermal coatings. The morphology of contaminant deposits, in the form of films or clusters, remains little studied, poorly understood and difficult to predict. This study aims to understand the mechanisms responsible for the morphology of contaminant deposits. Contaminant/substrate pairs are analyzed to determine the physicochemical phenomena responsible for contaminant deposit morphology. A second line of research examines the temporal maturation of the deposit.