Abstract
Water outgassed from spacecraft materials plays a key role in degrading cryogenic sensors, therefore characterizing “sneak paths” where water molecules can potentially migrate from sources external to payload to cryogenic surfaces becomes an important task to ensure proper sensor performance. Via modeling and laboratory testing, we examine water molecular transport mechanisms, and will show that sneak path testing at ambient pressure environment can be effective and expedient to help gain insights into molecular transport phenomenon under vacuum scenarios.
Examining Water Sneak Paths
Water outgassed from spacecraft materials plays a key role in degrading cryogenic sensors, therefore characterizing “sneak paths” where water molecules can potentially migrate from sources external to payload to cryogenic surfaces becomes an important task to ensure proper sensor performance. Via modeling and laboratory testing, we examine water molecular transport mechanisms, and will show that sneak path testing at ambient pressure environment can be effective and expedient to help gain insights into molecular transport phenomenon under vacuum scenarios.