Mir contamination observations and implications to the International Space Station

A series of external contamination measurements were made on the Russian Mir Space Station. The Mir external contamination observations summarized in this paper were essential in assessing the potential system level impact of Russian Segment induced external contamination onto the International Space Station (ISS). Mir contamination observations include results from a series of flight experiments: CNES (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales) Comes-Aragatz, retrieved NASA camera bracket, EuroMir '95 ICA (Instrument Comrade Active), and the Russian Astra-II. Results from these experiments were studied in detail to characterize Mir induced contamination. In conjunction with Mir contamination observations, Russian materials samples were delivered to the U.S. for condensable outgassing rate testing. These test results were essential in the identification and characterization of Mir contamination sources. Once Mir contamination sources were identified and characterized, activities to assess the implications to ISS were implemented. As a result of these efforts, and in conjunction and collaboration with scientists at RSC-Energia in Russia, modifications in Russian materials selection and usage were implemented to control induced external contamination and mitigate risk to ISS.