Returning spacecrafts, when passing through the Earths atmosphere, are characterized by intense destruction of the frontal heat shield, which occurs due to the impact of a high-speed flow of oncoming gas. As a result of ablation, which occurs over several minutes, the products of destruction enter the surrounding plasma layer and, in part, settle on the surface of the spacecraft. The design features of the Soyuz descent vehicle made it possible to investigate the results of the interaction of the plasma flow with the surface of the porthole located in the leeward zone. For studies of the characteristics of individual particles and their formations, both direct surveys of surface relief fragments and various methods of sample preparation were used. The results of experimental studies of plaque on the porthole are presented by various methods: optical microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, X-ray structure, electron microscopic. Physicochemical conditions of plasma components deposition on glass surface are discussed. The obtained data on phase composition, morphology and elemental composition of microparticles are analyzed. Classification of particles formed on the surface of the cosmic body during interaction with the plasma flow during the passage of the atmosphere is proposed.
Tugaeenko et al. (Wed,) studied this question.