Science.-New system predicts damage from impacts on spacecraft.

by August 18, 2025

MADRID, 18 (EUROPA PRESS)

A new system for detecting and characterizing micrometeoroids and orbital debris has been designed to monitor impacts on satellites and spacecraft.

The system, developed by the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), provides critical post-impact data, ensuring impact detection even when damage is not immediately apparent.

Space debris around Earth is a growing problem, due to the explosion of commercial satellites, anti-satellite missile tests, and accidents that contribute to the proliferation of space debris. Depending on its location, debris can remain in orbit for years, posing a threat to operational spacecraft.

The new system can be mounted on a spacecraft or integrated into its design. It consists of a structural element with integrated sensors that collect data for software analysis, identifying the details of the impact. This data can provide information on the size and volume of particles orbiting Earth, including many that are too small to be visible from the planet's surface. It can also alert spacecraft or satellites when they have been impacted.

INADVERTENT IMPACTS

"Most spacecraft survive minor impacts without systems breaking down or operators on Earth even noticing," said Dr. Sidney Chocron, a SwRI scientist who led the development of the micrometeorite and space debris detection and characterization system, in a statement. "Our device is designed to send important data back to Earth before damage is observed, which can also influence future design decisions."

SwRI used its light gas cannon, capable of replicating the vacuum of space and the impact conditions of space debris, to fire small projectiles at panels equipped with the detection and characterization device. The results are detailed in a recent study led by Chocron.

"While not every aspect of the space environment can be replicated, our tests create realistic particle impacts," Chocron said. "This helps determine whether the structures can withstand such collisions. It also allows us to evaluate the effectiveness of the micrometeorite and space debris detection and characterization system, which can detect the time and location of impacts, as well as the velocity and composition of the debris."

This data could also help NASA and industry develop more resilient future spacecraft. While it doesn't directly help existing spacecraft avoid collisions, it could play a role in early warning systems. If a satellite detects a debris impact, it could warn others in the same orbit to move out of the way, if possible.

Don't Miss