New Satellite Fragmentation Model Based upon Low-Velocity and Hypervelocity Impacts
Abstract
This paper summarizes tests to investigate the outcome of low-velocity and hypervelocity impacts on two identical target micro-satellites. The targets were 15cm × 15cm × 15cm in size and 740g in mass. One test was performed using a 39-g aluminum alloy sphere at a speed of 1.45km/s while the other was performed using a 4-g aluminum alloy sphere at a speed of 4.44km/s. The targets were completely fragmented after both tests. This paper also proposes a new approach to improve the calculation of cross-sectional area of fragments and a new technique for modeling the area-to-mass ratio distribution of fragments. It can be concluded that the area-to-mass ratio distribution model resulting from the proposed methods fits very well to the fragments observed with the micro-satellite impact tests.
- Publication:
-
Japan Society of Aeronautical Space Sciences
- Pub Date:
- 2009
- DOI:
- 10.2322/jjsass.57.56
- Bibcode:
- 2009JSASS..57...56M
- Keywords:
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- Space Environment;
- Orbital Debris;
- Impact Fragmentation