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

US10267694B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA · US

Inventors

• Steven L. Rickman · League City, US
• W. Lance Richards · Palmdale, US
• Anthony Piazza · Palmdale, US
• Eric L. Christiansen · Houston, US
• Francisco Pena · Santurtzi, ES
• Allen R. Parker, Jr. · Lancaster, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 13, 2017
• Grant date: Apr 23, 2019
• Expiry date: Jun 11, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01M11/083
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

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.