Ballistic limit curve regression for Freedom Station orbital debris shields

A procedure utilized at Marshall Space Flight Center to formulate ballistic limit curves for the Space Station Freedom's manned module orbital debris shields is presented. A stepwise linear least squares regression method similar to that employed by Burch (1967) is used to relate a penetration parameter to various projectile and target descriptors. A stepwise regression was also conducted with the model reduced to lower forms, thus eliminating the effects of generalized assumptions.