Abstract
SwRI is developing a technology that will enable detection and characterization of micrometeoroid orbital debris (MMOD) while on-orbit. The technology includes an instrumented aluminum panel that can be installed on a satellite and, with the appropriate sensor and software suite, is able to detect and characterize impacts during the mission. The stress waves produced by the impact on the panel will be selected on-board by the software, treated, and sent to the ground for further analysis. The selection process will be directed by an algorithm that will be developed based on the experimental campaign and stress wave theory.
CTH computer simulations in 2D and 3D were performed to study the viability and design the technology. Fully instrumented witness panels are being tested (August 2022) under hypervelocity impact using SwRI’s 0.17 in caliber two-stage light-gas gun. The small-scale panels were placed in the target tank to be impacted multiple times at velocities up to 6 km/s by a 3-mm al6061-T6 sphere. As expected, the strain magnitude depends on the distance to the impact point and, in general, decreases with distance.
