Title: DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF METEOROID AND ORBITAL DEBRIS SHIELDS
Abstract: The novel structure of metallic foams is of interest in the design of next‐generation debris shields as it introduces physical mechanisms that are advantageous to hypervelocity impact shielding (e.g. increased fragmentation/melt/vaporization, energy dissipation, etc.). Preliminary investigations have shown improved shielding capability over traditional spacecraft primary structures. In this paper, the results of a current hypervelocity impact test program on metallic open‐cell foam core sandwich panels are reported. A preliminary ballistic limit equation has been derived from the experimental results, and is presented in a form suitable for implementation in risk assessment software codes.