Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) Measurement of Materials Aged Under Simulated Space Environment

Spacecraft materials play a crucial role in safeguarding satellites from space’s harsh conditions. However, exposure to solar radiation and aggressive chemical species in the upper atmosphere alters these materials’ physical, chemical, and optical properties over time. Understanding material evolution during a mission enhances spacecraft reliability. By establishing correlations between on-orbit material performance and laboratory-based tests, accurate predictions can be made through accelerated space weather experiments. This study evaluates the effects of radiation on various modern spacecraft materials, specifically high-energy electrons, atomic oxygen, and vacuum ultraviolet radiation, in a ground-based simulated LEO environment. The focus is on assessing the impact on the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function properties.