Orbital impacts and the space shuttle windshield

Karen S. Edelstein

doi:10.1117/12.212574

23 June 1995 Orbital impacts and the space shuttle windshield

Karen S. Edelstein

Proceedings Volume 2483, Space Environmental, Legal, and Safety Issues; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.212574
Event: SPIE's 1995 Symposium on OE/Aerospace Sensing and Dual Use Photonics, 1995, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

The Space Transportation System (STS) fleet has flown more than sixty missions over the fourteen years since its first flight. As a result of encounters with on-orbit particulates (space debris and micrometeoroids), 177 impact features (chips) have been found on the STS outer windows (through STS-65). Forty-five of the damages were large enough to warrant replacement of the window. NASA's orbital operations and vehicle inspection procedures have chnaged over the history of the shuttle program, in response to concerns about the orbital environment and the cost of maintaining the space shuttle. These programmatic issues will be discussed, including safety concerns, maintenance issues, inspection procedures, and flight rule changes. Examples of orbital debris impacts to the shuttle windows will be provided. There will also be a brief discussion of the impact properties of glass and what design changes have been considered to improve the impact properties of the windows.

Citation Download Citation

Karen S. Edelstein "Orbital impacts and the space shuttle windshield", Proc. SPIE 2483, Space Environmental, Legal, and Safety Issues, (23 June 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.212574

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