Infrared emission from reactions of high-velocity atomic oxygen with black surfaces: Z306 paint, anodized aluminum,...

Large optical telescopes are being placed into orbit at altitudes where the residual atmosphere can interact with the spacecraft to produce optical emissions, such as the visible shuttle glow. The near-field emissions produced from these interactions will reduce the far-field detection limits of these instruments. Here we present laboratory data on the intensities and spectral distributions of the infrared emissions created in the interaction at orbital velocity of the dominant atmospheric constituent, atomic oxygen, with optical baffle coating materials used on space observatory platforms: Z306 Chemglaze paint, black anodized aluminum, and black Teflon. Data over the 1.0-5.4-µm spectral region are presented. Adsorbed contaminants dominate the spectra of the less reactive coatings. We present data on contaminant removal with oxygen fluence. We also include a simple assessment, based on these data, of the magnitude of this interaction and its effect on mission performance.