Size Distribution of Fragment Debris Produced by Simulated Meteoroid Impact of Spacecraft Wall

A laboratory experimental program was conducted to determine the amount of fragment debris produced and its size distribution when simulated spacecraft walls are penetrated by hypervelocity projectiles. Two tests were made in which a spacecraft wall was struck with a small steel and an aluminum projectile, respectively. Results show that most of the fragment debris were irregularly shaped flat plates. The fragment data follow a cumulative number distribution law of the form N = am(exp b) where m is fragment mass and a and b are constants. Orbital lifetimes of most of the fragments were very short, being on the order of a few days.