United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

The United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of the

Eric L Christiansen

Jeanne L Crews

Allen R Parker, Jr

Anthony Piazza

Frank Lindsay Gibbons

Joel E Williamsen

Steven L Rickman

W Lance Richards

Francisco Peña

Angela M Nolen

Terry Byers

Jennifer R Robinson

Justin H Kerr

Various embodiments may provide a strain-sensing apparatus configured to be attached to a micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) shielding layer and data collection equipment in communication with the strain-sensing apparatus configured to detect an occurrence, a time, a location, and/or a severity of a MMOD strike on the MMOD shielding layer. The various embodiments may enable detection and/or location of potentially harmful MMOD strikes on both human occupied and unmanned spacecraft.

Micrometeoroid and orbital debris impact detection and location using fiber optic strain sensing

In an embodiment, an apparatus and method capable of determining the time and location of a projectile's impact is disclosed. In another embodiment, an apparatus and method capable of determining the time and location of a projectile's impact as well as the direction from whence the projectile came is disclosed.

Impact detection system

Flexible multi-shock shield system and method are disclosed for defending against hypervelocity particles. The flexible multi-shock shield system and method may include a number of flexible bumpers or shield layers spaced apart by one or more resilient support layers, all of which may be encapsulated in a protective cover. Fasteners associated with the protective cover allow the flexible multi-shock shield to be secured to the surface of a structure to be protected.

Flexible multi-shock shield

Provided herein are apparatuses for deployment of at least one hypervelocity shield on a structure in exoatmospheric space. The apparatuses comprise a means of attaching to the structure at least at one place on the structure and further comprise at least one of the hypervelocity shields and a means of deploying said shields. Also provided are methods of deploying the hypervelocity shields using said apparatuses.

Apparatus and method for deploying a hypervelocity shield

A hypervelocity impact (HVI) Whipple Shield and a method for shielding a wall from penetration by high velocity particle impacts where the Whipple Shield is comprised of spaced apart inner and outer metal sheets or walls with an intermediate cloth barrier arrangement comprised of ceramic cloth and high strength cloth which are interrelated by ballistic formulae.

Enhanced whipple shield

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Eric L Christiansen