Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Spacecraft formation – orbit – or interplanetary path
Patent
1994-07-25
1997-02-11
Bell, James J.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Spacecraft formation, orbit, or interplanetary path
89 3601, 89 3611, 428 345, 428 346, 428 358, 428 361, 428408, 428902, 428911, B64G 122
Patent
active
056012586
ABSTRACT:
A shield for protecting spacecraft from impact with particles having a wide range of velocities includes three elements. Sets of spacers are used to secure the elements in positions in which they are separated from each other selected distances. The bumper element is the outermost element and is composed of ceramic fabric material or tin and is utilized to vaporize or melt a high velocity particle upon impact therewith. The intermediate element is a cloud stopper element and is composed of a metallic layer over a graphite epoxy layer and is used to absorb small fragments resulting from high velocity impacts with the bumper element. The innermost element is a fragment stopper element and is utilized to absorb low velocity particles. The shield elements generally enclose the spacecraft and are mounted onto hardpoint end portions of the spacecraft so that impact forces are not transmitted directly to impact sensitive portions of the spacecraft. The spacing of the elements generally prevents transmission of highly concentrated impact forces to successively inwardly positioned elements of the shield thereby preventing impact damage to the spacecraft.
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patent: 4926963 (1990-05-01), Snyder
Cour-Palais, B. G. and Crews, J. L. (1990) "A Multi Shock Concept for Spacecraft Shielding" Int. J. Impact Engng vol. 10, pp. 135-146.
Crews, J. L. and Christiansen, E. L. (1992) "The NASA JSC Hypervelocity Impact Test Facility (HIT-F)" AIAA Paper No. 92-1640.
Christiansen, E. L. (1992) "Performance Equations for Advanced Orbital Debris Shields" AIAA Paper No. 92-1462.
Bell James J.
McDonnell Douglas Corporation
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