Multi-shock Shield Performance At 14MJ for Catalogued Debris

Abstract

As the orbital debris population continues to grow significant tangible threats to robotic and crewed spacecraft have risen greatly over the last decade. These threats are currently mitigated operationally; however, an understanding of engineered solutions is useful to consider with respect to the risks and costs of operational mitigation. To this end a multi-shock shield has been designed and tested to demonstrate what it takes to stop an object that fits the energy profile of catalogued debris. A 14.25 MJ hypervelocity impact test has been performed on an enhanced, multi-shock shield at orbital speeds at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC). The projectile was a hollow aluminum and nylon cylinder with characteristic dimensions typical of catalogued debris. The AEDC test of the shield occurred without any issues, and the shield successfully stopped the 598 g projectile at a mass penalty of 10.35 g/cm2.