This is what happens to aluminum when hit by a 1/2 oz (~14g) piece of plastic going 15,000 mph (~24000 km/h) in space 
#Hypervelocity

#Hypervelocity
That’s the great thing about Kinetic Energy (KE):
KE = ½mv^2
Velocity is *far* more important than mass. Doesn’t matter how light something is...if it’s moving really fast, it can pack a serious punch!
#Hypervelocity
KE = ½mv^2
Velocity is *far* more important than mass. Doesn’t matter how light something is...if it’s moving really fast, it can pack a serious punch!
#Hypervelocity
For quick reference:
a high-powered rifle bullet goes about 1500 mph
(wayyy slower than that 15000 mph plastic space debris!)
#Hypervelocity
a high-powered rifle bullet goes about 1500 mph
(wayyy slower than that 15000 mph plastic space debris!)
#Hypervelocity
So how do we protect spacecraft against this orbital shooting range?
Advanced Shields
There are various concepts that have been developed and tested, and now help to protect spacecraft like the @Space_Station
Here are some different types...
#Hypervelocity


There are various concepts that have been developed and tested, and now help to protect spacecraft like the @Space_Station

Here are some different types...
#Hypervelocity
This is a “Monolithic Shield” 
It’s your brute force approach and does not win any points for ingenuity.
It’s simply a slab of aluminum capable of absorbing the entire force of the impact.
#Hypervelocity

It’s your brute force approach and does not win any points for ingenuity.
It’s simply a slab of aluminum capable of absorbing the entire force of the impact.
#Hypervelocity
This is a “Whipple Shield”
It’s the first spacecraft shield ever implemented. Introduced by Fred Whipple in the 1940’s, it’s still used today.
It uses a sacrificial bumper -usually aluminum- in front of the spacecraft, allowing it to absorb the initial impact.
#Hypervelocity

It’s the first spacecraft shield ever implemented. Introduced by Fred Whipple in the 1940’s, it’s still used today.
It uses a sacrificial bumper -usually aluminum- in front of the spacecraft, allowing it to absorb the initial impact.
#Hypervelocity
This is a “Stuffed Whipple” Shield 
It’s a variation of the simple Whipple.
Layers of Nextel and Kevlar are inserted between the bumper and rear wall to shock and pulverize the debris cloud even more
#Hypervelocity

It’s a variation of the simple Whipple.
Layers of Nextel and Kevlar are inserted between the bumper and rear wall to shock and pulverize the debris cloud even more

#Hypervelocity
This is a “Multi Shock Shield” 
This is a popular design
It staggers layers of Nextel at specified standoff distances. The multiple layers repeatedly shock that debris until the remaining fragments are harmless against the rear wall.
#Hypervelocity


It staggers layers of Nextel at specified standoff distances. The multiple layers repeatedly shock that debris until the remaining fragments are harmless against the rear wall.
#Hypervelocity
This is a “Honeycomb Panel”
Many spacecraft are designed using Aluminum honeycomb sandwich panel structures (what’s with all the food refs?).
These panels are tested and evaluated for their MMOD shielding capabilities.
MMOD = MicroMeteoroid and Orbital Debris
#Hypervelocity

Many spacecraft are designed using Aluminum honeycomb sandwich panel structures (what’s with all the food refs?).
These panels are tested and evaluated for their MMOD shielding capabilities.
MMOD = MicroMeteoroid and Orbital Debris
#Hypervelocity
This is a “Foam Panel” 
Metallic foam sandwich panels provide structural support - they’re similar to honeycomb panels, but have improved MMOD shielding capabilities.
Metallic foam panels are being tested and evaluated for future spacecraft designs.
#Hypervelocity

Metallic foam sandwich panels provide structural support - they’re similar to honeycomb panels, but have improved MMOD shielding capabilities.
Metallic foam panels are being tested and evaluated for future spacecraft designs.
#Hypervelocity
Lastly, this is a “Transhab Shield”
This shield is a prototype developed for a future human-rated mission to Mars, and consists of layers of Mylar, Nextel, Kevlar, & Foam (cored out).
Foam is used because it’s desired that shielding be compressible for launch.
#Hypervelocity

This shield is a prototype developed for a future human-rated mission to Mars, and consists of layers of Mylar, Nextel, Kevlar, & Foam (cored out).
Foam is used because it’s desired that shielding be compressible for launch.
#Hypervelocity
For more information on shield development and hypervelocity impact technologies:
@Astromaterials
https://hvit.jsc.nasa.gov/shield-development/
#Hypervelocity
@Astromaterials

https://hvit.jsc.nasa.gov/shield-development/
#Hypervelocity
This is an impact test for the @Space_Station lab module shielding
Purpose: generate damage representative of potential impacts on the ISS
Video: a ~0.4 inch (10 mm) aluminum sphere “micrometeoroid” impacting an orbital debris shield @ 12300 mph (~19800 km/hr)
#Hypervelocity

Purpose: generate damage representative of potential impacts on the ISS
Video: a ~0.4 inch (10 mm) aluminum sphere “micrometeoroid” impacting an orbital debris shield @ 12300 mph (~19800 km/hr)
#Hypervelocity
For any fans of shooting/marksmanship *and* space sciences, I think I found your perfect job:
High Velocity Impact Testing and Advanced Spacecraft Shielding Materials.
https://hvit.jsc.nasa.gov/hypervelocity-testing/
#Hypervelocity #Engineering
High Velocity Impact Testing and Advanced Spacecraft Shielding Materials.

#Hypervelocity #Engineering