Synergistic Effects of LEO Space Environment and Their Influence on Space Station

Space station, during its projected extended stay in LEO, will encounter many environmental factors including energetic particles, ultraviolet radiation, atomic oxygen, and space debris and meteoroids, together with some induced environments such as contamination and discharging. Firstly, the synergistic effects of the above environments on space station are briefed in pairs. Then the synergistic effects from extravehicular space environments are studied one by one, including the interactions between energetic particles and solar electromagnetic irradiation, between atomic oxygen and ultraviolet radiation, between space debris and atomic oxygen, as well as the contamination induced by space factors and discharging. Thirdly, the synergistic effects inside the space station between microbes, temperature, humidity and gas circulation, micro vibration, residual radiation, space radiation and microgravity and so on are analyzed. Lastly, some recommendations and countermeasures against synergistic effects are proposed for improving the mechanism’s analysis, the simulation studies, the test methods, the forecasting techniques and the protection of space station.