THE MICROMETEOROID IMPACT HAZARD IN SPACE: TECHNIQUES FOR DAMAGE SIMULATION BY PULSED LASERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING

Available from UMI in association with The British Library.; Pulsed lasers, generating high irradiances ({dollar}sim{dollar}10{dollar}sp{lcub}16{rcub}{dollar} W. m{dollar}sp{lcub}-2{rcub}{dollar}), offer a unique alternative means of simulating hypervelocity microparticle impacts for a wide range of impactor mass/velocity combinations, allowing a large database of damage parameters to be built up over a relatively short time.; Applications of the simulation technique are outlined for the study of the operation of electrically-active spacecraft sub-systems (e.g. solar arrays) and optical sub-systems when exposed to the near-Earth orbital debris environment. Emphasis is placed on the extension of this technique, by varying laser radiation wavelength to maximise surface absorption, to different materials for space use.; The impact damage hazard for various environments is generally assessed and the laser simulation technique applied within the context of the impact damage expected for various spacecraft materials. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...