Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – With shield or other protective means
Reexamination Certificate
2007-12-18
2007-12-18
Swiatek, Rob (Department: 3643)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
With shield or other protective means
C244S158300, C428S058000
Reexamination Certificate
active
11498659
ABSTRACT:
An orbital debris shield for protecting the hull of a spacecraft. The shield is comprised of a number of flexible and releasably attached gores that substantially cover the hull. Interleafed between layers of the gores are layers of a spacing material. As debris collides with the gores, the material is shocked and breaks up to some degree. As the shocked debris disperses through a layer of the gore, the spacing material interacts with the debris. After dispersing through a number of layers of the gores and the spacing material, the debris transfers a significant portion of kinetic energy and the probability of the remaining particles piercing the hull is significantly decreased.
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Bigelow Aerospace
Gibbs Franklin E.
Swiatek Rob
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