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Observation of 7Be on the surface of LDEF spacecraft

Nature volume 349, pages 678–680 (1991)Cite this article

Abstract

THELong Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF), an orbiting unmanned satellite, was recently returned to Earth after almost six years in space. From radioactivity measurements, we have found significant quantities of the isotope7Be on the leading edge (but only on the leading edge) of LDEF. Although the absolute atmospheric concentration of 7Be needed to explain this detection is extremely small (10–7atoms cm–3), its concentration at LDEF's altitude (310 km) must be several orders of magnitude higher than in the stratosphere below, where it is produced by cosmic-ray reactions with atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen nuclei. To explain the presence of 7Be on the surface of LDEF, it must first be rapidly and efficiently transported to high altitudes, and then adsorbed onto the surface of the spacecraft. Neither process had been expected. Our detection may therefore lead to the use of 7Be as an exo-atmospheric tracer, as well as to studies of surface interactions in space.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Space Science Laboratory, Code ES62, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama, 35812, USA

    G. J. Fishman, T. A. Parnell & P. Peters

  2. Universities Space Research Association, Huntsville, Alabama, 35806, USA

    B. A. Harmon

  3. Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama, 35899, USA

    J. C. Gregory

  4. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375-5000, USA

    G. W. Phillips, S. E. King, R. A. Augusts & J. C. Rftter

  5. Sachs/Freeman Associates, Washington, DC, 20375-5000, USA

    J. H. Cutchin

  6. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32609, USA

    P. S. Haskins

  7. Institute for Space Science and Technology, Gainesville, Florida, 32609, USA

    J. E. McKisson, D. W. Ely & A. G. Weisenberger

  8. Department of Physics, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA

    R. B. Piercey & T. Dybler

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  1. G. J. Fishman
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Fishman, G., Harmon, B., Gregory, J. et al. Observation of 7Be on the surface of LDEF spacecraft. Nature 349, 678–680 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/349678a0

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