Hypervelocity Impact Damage Assessment and Protection Techniques

Abstract

Spacecraft which operate in densely populated altitude regimes are experiencing a steady debris and meteoroid particle flux which strongly increases with decreasing particle sizes (see Table 3.2 and 3.3, and Fig. 2.38). The consequences of resulting impacts can range from small surface pits for µm-size impactors, via clear hole penetrations for mm-size objects, to partial or complete destruction via shockwaves for projectiles larger than a few centimeters. The most probable impact velocities are in the range from 0 to 15 km/s for space debris, and between 5 km/s and 30 km/s for meteoroids (denoted as hypervelocity impacts or HVI). At such speeds, the impact of an aluminum sphere of 1 cm diameter deploys the same energy as an exploding hand-grenade, with equally devastating consequences, unless special protection measures are applied.