Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris Environment and Hypervelocity Shields

MMOD Environment Models• Orbital Debris (OD) environment models • Orbital Debris environment (ORDEM2000): 1-17 km/s • Debris flux increases with increasing altitude up to about 1500km altitude • Debris is not a major factor above GEO altitude (35786km) National Aeronautics and Space Administration MMOD shielding background • MMOD shields typical composed of bumper(s), standoff, and rear wall (final protection layer) • Exclude multi-layer insulation (MLI) thermal blanket Shield bumper intermediate bumper rear wall Standoff Purpose: Breakup MMOD particle, laterally disperse resulting debris Key material & physical parameters (V ≥ 7 km/s): density, thickness to projectile diameter ratio, thermal properties MMOD particle (projectile) Purpose: Further breakup debris from first impact, slow expansion of debris cloud Key material & physical parameters (V ≥ 7 km/s): combination of first bumper and rear wall properties Purpose: Stop debris from MMOD & bumper(s) Key material & physical parameters (V ≥ 7 km/s): strength, toughness, thickness