Outgassing
Outgassing is the release of gases trapped, absorbed, or dissolved in a material. In the context of space and astronautical engineering, outgassing refers to the release of gases from spacecraft materials and components in a vacuum environment. Outgassing can be a problem because the released gases can condense on nearby surfaces, such as optical elements, and cause contamination or reduce their performance. Outgassing can also affect the pressure and composition of the surrounding atmosphere, which can be critical for sensitive experiments or life support systems. Therefore, spacecraft materials and components are carefully selected and tested to minimize outgassing. This is typically done by using low-outgassing materials, such as certain plastics, and by subjecting the materials to vacuum and thermal cycling to remove any trapped gases.
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