Orion spacecraft MMOD protection design and assessment

摘要

The Orion crew exploration vehicle is currently on schedule to replace the Space Shuttle Orbiter for American and international partner access to the International Space Station by 2015 and, afterwards, to conduct more complex, flexible path missions throughout our solar system. This work describes some of the efforts being undertaken to ensure that the Spacecraft's design will meet or exceed the stringent micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) requirements set out by NASA when exposed to the environments encountered during these missions. This paper will provide a brief overview of the approaches being used to provide MMOD protection to the spacecraft and to assess the its compliance with Constellation Program's MMOD requirements.