INTRODUCTION

The understanding of the different space environments and their effects on spacecraft components and systems is vital to all future space missions, particularly as the emphasis for spacecraft development is placed on more compact, longer life systems that contain enabling technologies.  An understanding of these environments and establishment of techniques to mitigate the effects from these environments is essential to the advancement of new technologies into space.  The Surveying and Examination of Eroded Returned Surfaces (SEERS) Initiative was initiated to provide leadership in the analysis of flight hardware returned from space. 

The SEERS Initiative is managed by NASA’s SEE Program.  The Project will include comprehensive efforts toward the analysis of returned spacecraft hardware (not primary science mission objectives) to understand environmental effects due to solar UV, ionizing radiation, plasmas, neutral contamination, meteoroids, and other conditions experienced during the mission.  

The Initiative will initially concentrate efforts toward the return of the Genesis spacecraft (currently scheduled to return September, 2004) while long range plans include the Stardust spacecraft (currently scheduled to return January, 2006).  Genesis will be the first spacecraft returned from Lagrangian Point (L1) and Stardust will be the first spacecraft to return contemporary comet grains and possibly interstellar dust to Earth. 

The SEERS Initiative will provide the ability to study space exposed materials for degradation and contamination as well as investigate system level effects of radiation degradation to microelectronics, mechanisms, and associated hardware.  Knowledge gathered from this initiative will provide excellent risk mitigation for future missions.