1990 - Flexible multi-shock space bumper to shield spacecraft from debris

* Crews’ work focused on protecting Spacecraft and satellites from impacts from space debris and meteoroids. When a spacecraft collides with even minuscule pieces of space debris, the damage and impact could be severe. * After multiple tests, Crews soon realized that the aluminum that is used normally to build spacecraft was especially vulnerable to debris collisions. * The solution she thought of was a shield comprising "multiple layers of ceramic fabric, open-cell foam and other materials." * This layered shield repeatedly shocked impacting particles in order to protect the spacecraft. * She created a shield from fabric to make it weigh less, yet have more strength. This is known as the flexible multi-shock shield.

Flexible multi-shock shield; enhanced whipple shield;hypervelocity impact shield

Category:
Engineering Design

Completion Status:
yes

Patent Number:
6899009;5610363;5067388

Co-Inventor:
Eric L. Christiansen; Jennifer R. Robinson; Angela M. Molen; Burton G. Cour-Palais