A number of experimental releases into low earth orbit of small, but detectable, quantities of very fine particulates are planned for the next several years. The principal materials are chemically and physically similar to those generally assumed to be the major constituents of interplanetary and circumstellar dusts (silicates, silicon carbide, graphitic materials). Later releases will include multi-phase releases of non-volatile particulates and volatile ices, simulating cometary material. Both ground-based and Space-Shuttle-based observations will be made in the visible and infra-red to study particle-plasma interactions, cometary physics and cloud dynamics in orbit.

Since opportunities for observing the behavior of such well-characterized materials in space are likely to be rare, and the effective duration of significant concentrations will be very short, we wish to have early input from the scientific community so as to maximize the scientific return. We will be receptive to all suggestions including collaborations in making the observations.