Novel Orbital Debris Protection of Spacecraft

轨道碎片对太空飞行安全构成了重大威胁--由于碰撞涉及的速度非常高，平均约为9公里/S，即使是微小的粒子也会损坏、降低或摧毁航天器。拟议的研究计划的目的是在微流星体和轨道碎片(MMOD)领域进行研究。轨道碎片密度急剧上升，这对加拿大的空间资产构成越来越大的破坏性威胁。由于这些资产的重要性以及与制造和部署相关的高昂成本，这对加拿大来说是一个战略和经济问题。由于投资的规模(例如1.1亿美元的RADARSAT星座任务计划合同)，加拿大航天局(CSA)已将新的防御技术确定为加拿大空间部门的关键战略优先事项。需要改进碎片撞击建模方法(包括材料模型、几何模型和数值模型)，以便使卫星供应商能够研究新的屏蔽配置并预测其在撞击应力下的性能。这将使更耐用、寿命更长的航天器的生产最终延长加拿大未来太空任务的功能持续时间，使所有加拿大人受益。该研究计划的主要目标是提高我们对MMOD影响过程的理解。通过这样做，预计它将开发更准确的撞击行为模型，这将对卫星界开发改进的屏蔽和更耐用的卫星部件设计具有非常宝贵的价值。考虑到超高速撞击现象的复杂性和可能的保护方案的多样性，这项工作需要对超高速撞击盾构结构进行数值和实验研究相结合，以充分了解物理过程，并说明所用仿真模型和方法的准确性。拟议的计划将解决一般航天器设备的保护问题，并将另外侧重于复合材料外包式压力容器的保护。当压力容器因空间碎片的撞击而失去结构完整性而发生爆炸性故障时，可能会对设备造成重大损害，并产生大量新的空间碎片。HQP将参与这项工作的所有方面，包括物理实验和详细的数值模式开发。HQP还将有机会与经验丰富的卫星工程师互动，以更好地了解该行业在卫星设计方面面临的实际关切。除了新的HQP，加拿大航天部门还将受益于拟议计划的研究成果，这将影响未来的卫星设计，并增加它们在行业内的竞争力。

Orbital debris poses a significant threat to space flight safety - even small particles can damage, degrade, or destroy spacecraft due to the very high velocities involved in a collision, which average about 9 km/s. The purpose of the proposed research program is to pursue research efforts in the field of Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD). There has been a dramatic rise in the density of orbital debris and this represents an ever-growing destructive threat to Canadian space assets. This is a strategic and economic concern for Canada due to the importance of these assets and the high cost associated with their manufacture and deployment. Due to the size of investments (such as $110 million dollar contract for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission program), Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has identified new defensive technologies as a key strategic priority for the Canadian space sector. Methods for debris impact modeling (which will include material, geometrical, and numerical models) need to be advanced in order to allow satellite vendors to investigate new shield configurations and predict their performance under impact stress. This will allow production of more durable space vehicles with longer lifespans that will ultimately prolong the functional duration of future Canadian space missions to the benefit of all Canadians.The primary objective of this research program is to improve our understanding of MMOD impact processes. In so doing, it is expected to develop more accurate models of impact behavior which would be invaluable to satellite community to develop improved shielding and more durable satellite component designs. Considering the complex nature of hypervelocity impact phenomena and the variety of possible protection solutions, this work will require a combination of numerical and experimental study of hypervelocity impact on shield configurations to fully understand the physical processes and show the accuracy of the simulation models and methods used. The proposed program will address the protection of general spacecraft equipment, and will additionally focus on protection of composite overwrapped pressure vessels. When a pressure vessel fails explosively due to the loss of structural integrity from an impact of space debris, it can cause major damage to the equipment and a considerable amount of new space debris is created. HQP will be involved in all aspects of the work, including physical experiments and detailed numerical model development. HQP will also have the opportunity to interact with experienced satellite engineers to gain a better appreciation of the practical concerns faced by the industry with respect to satellite design. In addition to new HQP, Canadian space sector will benefit from the research outcomes of the proposed program, which will impact future satellite designs and increase their competitiveness within the industry.