Patent ID: 6298765
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: B64G,F41H

Abstract:
A multi-shock assembly in combination with a spacecraft surface, for protecting said spacecraft surface from hypervelocity impactors, comprising:a) a plurality of sandwiched multi-shock subassemblies, each multi-shock subassembly, comprising:a sacrificial impactor disrupting/shocking layer of hypervelocity impactor disrupting/shocking material; anda spacing element comprising space-rated open cell foam material positioned adjacent said sacrificial impactor disrupting/shocking layer,wherein said plurality of sandwiched multi-shock subassemblies includes alternating layers of sacrificial impactor disrupting/shocking layers and spacing elements; andb) a cover member arranged and disposed relative to said multi-shock subassemblies and the spacecraft surface, when the multishock assembly is applied to the spacecraft surface, to maintain the integrity of the multi-shock assembly, wherein said cover member encapsulates said plurality of sandwiched multi-shock subassemblies, an attachment portion of an outer surface of said cover member attaching to said spacecraft surface, said attachment portion comprising snap attachment elements, whereinin the event of exposure to such a hypervelocity impactor, the multi-shock subassemblies successively impact shock the impactor raising its thermal state to a molten or vapor condition thus providing dispersions in the form of expanding debris clouds/plumes which spread the impact energy of the impactor over volumes formed by the spacing elements thereby significantly reducing impact lethality at the spacecraft surface.