Enhanced space debris shields for manned spacecraft

A technology program funded by the European Space Agency started in October 2001 to improve and optimize meteoroids and debris shields for manned spacecraft. A review of the shielding systems proposed and implemented so far has been performed considering not only ballistic performance but also complex system level requirements and design aspects. The findings of the review activity were the starting point for experimental and analytical investigations on new shielding materials and configurations. Several configurations have been identified and Light Gas Gun impact experiments performed on targets with Aluminum foam, ceramic and aramid fabrics, polyurethane foams, Titanium-Aluminum alloys. System engineering evaluations (and in particular structural analyses) have been performed to evaluate the tested configurations and assess their potential use as a shielding system for manned elements of the International Space Station (ISS). Additional investigations and tests are planned during the next phase of the study on the selected configurations.