Catastrophic failure of stored energy modules following orbital debris penetration

Joel E. Williamsen; Charles J. Goodwin

doi:10.1117/12.256055

31 October 1996 Catastrophic failure of stored energy modules following orbital debris penetration

Joel E. Williamsen, Charles J. Goodwin

Proceedings Volume 2813, Characteristics and Consequences of Orbital Debris and Natural Space Impactors; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.256055
Event: SPIE's 1996 International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1996, Denver, CO, United States

Abstract

The population of dangerous orbital debris particles in low Earth orbit is growing, resulting in a need for improved risk assessment and risk management of critical space station elements from this hypervelocity impact threat. The effects of micrometeoroid and orbital debris (M/OD) penetration on space station equipment can very from a local damage problem to a possible catastrophic system failure (i.e., crew or station loss). Given this possibility, a preliminary study was undertaken by Meyer Analytics and NASA-MSFC to quantify and reduce the likelihood of catastrophic failure following orbital debris penetration of two Russian supplied modules: the FGB Energy Block module and the SPP-1 gyrodyne module. Each of these modules contains stored energy in the form of chemical propellants (UDMH), high pressure tanks, or kinetic energy (gyrodynes) that may release energy and propagate damage to the rest of the space station if impacted by a sufficiently energetic orbital debris particle. The study recommended design improvements to lower these probabilities, including spall blankets around the gyrodynes to lower the probability of gyrodyne penetration and fragment damage given gyrodyne rupture.

Citation Download Citation

Joel E. Williamsen and Charles J. Goodwin "Catastrophic failure of stored energy modules following orbital debris penetration", Proc. SPIE 2813, Characteristics and Consequences of Orbital Debris and Natural Space Impactors, (31 October 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.256055

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