Design
| Enviro |
Astro | Propulsion
| Power | Thermal
| Structures | AD&C
| CDHS |
Test
Spacecraft
are more at risk today of collision
than ever before, between natural and man-made objects
in orbit. The chances of a satellite impacting space
junk is higher than the odds of running into something
naturally occurring, like a meteor.
Collision
Hazards
Meteorites
could damage a spacecraft structurally. Spacecraft
are maneuvered to present the least impact area
possible during meteor showers. Optical sensors
and solar arrays are the most susceptible to small
projectiles.
Space
debris
consists of anything
from paint flecks to satellites beyond their end
of life. U.S. Space Command and the Naval Space
Command maintain a catalog of trackable debris that
they use to deconflict high profile missions such
as the ISS and Space Shuttle.
