FIG. 1.
Experimental setup of the simulation procedure at the Microgravity User Support Center (MUSC) at DLR Cologne utilizing the EXPOSE-E/-R hardware for ground-based Scientific Verification Tests (SVT). The samples in tray 1 (front row) were exposed to vacuum of 4.1×10−5 Pa, those in tray 2 (middle row) to Mars atmosphere and pressure (780–930 Pa). Additionally, the upper layer was irradiated with a total UVR200–400nm fluence of 5.7×105 kJ m−2, and the samples were subdued to irradiation-dependent temperature cycling temperatures between −25°C in the dark (16 h) and +10°C during irradiation (8 h). (Color images available at www.liebertonline.com/ast)