Meteoroid Bumper Experiment on Explorer 46

Abstract

An experiment on the Explorer 46 spacecraft has provided the first accurate measurements of the effectiveness of a meteoroid bumper in reducing meteoroid penetrations. The bumper reduced the penetration flux by a factor of 30 and demonstrated a weight savings of a factor of 6.9 in the material need to resist meteoroid penetration. The method of calculating the penetration flux recommended in the NASA space vehicle design criteria for meteoroid damage assessment was found to be very conservative, and changes have been suggested. The optimum distribution of material between a bumper and the main wall is discussed.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA277032

Entities

People

  • Donald H. Humes

Organizations

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Damage Assessment
  • Design Criteria
  • Detectors
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Hypervelocity Impact
  • Impact Tests
  • Internal Pressure
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Probability
  • Space Sciences
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Components
  • Stainless Steel
  • Vehicle Design

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Facility/Structural Engineering.
  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space