Reference Documents
Meteoroid & Orbital Debris Shielding
This report is an overview of the meteoroid and orbital debris risk analysis process, shielding development, materials selection, ballistic limit equations, shielding applications, and an introduction to the meteoroid and orbital debris environments.
Document | NASA TP-2003-210788 |
Author | Eric L. Christiansen, Ph.D./NASA |
Issued | August 2003 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20030068423.pdf |
Handbook for Designing MMOD Protection
This report discusses the MMOD protection design process and trade space, ballistic limit equations for numerous shielding types, and damage detection sensors.
Document | NASA TM-2009-214785 |
Author | Eric L. Christiansen, Ph.D./NASA |
Issued | June 2009 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20090010053.pdf |
Honeycomb vs. Foam: Evaluating a Potential Upgrade to International Space Station Module Shielding for Micrometeoroids and Orbital Debris
This is a test report that compares the hypervelocity impact performance of standard aluminum honeycomb core and the newer aluminum foam core sandwich panels.
Document | NASA TM-2009-214793 |
Authors | Shannon Ryan, Ph.D., Troy Hedman, Eric L. Christiansen, Ph.D. |
Issued | September 2009 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20100017497.pdf |
Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) Shield Ballistic Limit Analysis Program
This document is essentially a user manual that describes the operation and use of the ballistic limit analysis program (BLAP). The program is implemented as a Microsoft Excel® add-in, and allows the user to quickly perform ballistic limit calculations. This software may be requested by application to the NASA Johnson Space Center’s Technical Transfer and Commercialization Office (https://technology.jsc.nasa.gov/).
Document | NASA TM-2009-214789 |
Authors | Shannon Ryan, Ph.D., Eric L. Christiansen, Ph.D. |
Issued | February 2010 |
Website | https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lpi/contribution_docs/LPI-001804.pdf |
Performance of Whipple Shields at Impact Velocities above 9 kilometers per second
Conference Paper Abstract
Authors | Andrew J. Piekutowski, Kevin L. Poormon, Eric L. Christiansen, Bruce A Davis |
Issued | 2009 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20090024821.pdf |
Whipple Shield Sizing Equations
Whipple shield sizing equations recommended for use on Space Station Freedom trade study activities.
Document | NASA TM-105539 |
Author | Eric L. Christiansen, Ph.D./NASA |
Issued | March 1, 1991 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19920010826.pdf |
Shield Sizing and Response Equations
NASA TM-105527 Distribution Memorandum. This memorandum provides a consolidated list of meteoroid/debris shield equations which have been given in the referenced four memoranda.
Author | Eric L. Christiansen, Ph.D./NASA |
Issued | February 15, 1991 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19920010785.pdf |
Advanced Multifunctional MMOD Shield: Radiation Shielding Assessment
A comparison radiation-absorbing materials incorporated into MMOD shielding.
Document | Conference Paper |
Authors | Kristina Rojdev, Ph.D., Eric Christiansen, Ph.D. |
Issued | American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), 2013 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20130012847.pdf |
Analytic Ballistic Performance Model of Whipple Shields
Development of an analytic model for Whipple shields.
Document | Conference Paper |
Authors | Dr. Josh Miller, Dr. Michael Bjorkman, Dr. Eric Christiansen, Dr. Shannon Ryan |
Issued | The 13th Hypervelocity Impact Symposium, 2015 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20150001652.pdf |
Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris Environment & Hypervelocity Shields
An introductory overview of the MMOD environment and shield solutions.
Document | PowerPoint Charts |
Authors | Eric L. Christiansen, Ph.D., Dana M. Lear |
Issued | February 2012 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20120002584.pdf |
Projectile Density Effects on Shield Performance
Conference abstract providing overview of 100 tests to investigate MMOD density effects.
Document | Conference Abstract |
Authors | Eric L. Christiansen, Ph.D., Dana M. Lear, Frankel Lyons, Alan Davis |
Issued | 2009 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20090032052.pdf |
Development of the Next Generation of Meteoroid and Orbital Debris Shields
Results of a hypervelocity impact test program on metallic open-cell foam core sandwich panels are report along with preliminary ballistic limit equations.
Document | Conference Paper |
Authors | Shannon J. Ryan, Ph.D., Eric L. Christiansen, Ph.D., Dana M. Lear |
Issued | 2009 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20090024820.pdf |
Flexible Multi-shock Shield Patent
U.S. Patent for a flexible multi-shock shield system and method are disclosed for defending against hypervelocity particles.
Document | United States Patent #6,899,009 B2 |
Authors | Eric L. Christiansen, Ph.D., Jeanne L. Crews, Ph.D. |
Issued | May 31, 2005 |
Enhanced Whipple Shield Patent
U.S. Patent a hypervelocity impact Whipple Shield and a method for shielding a wall from penetration by high velocity particle impacts.
Document | United States Patent #5,610,363 |
Authors | Jeanne L. Crews, Ph.D., Eric L. Christiansen, Ph.D., Joel E. Williamsen, Ph.D., Angela M. Nolen |
Issued | March 11, 1997 |
Multi-shock Shield Performance at 15 Megajoules for Catalogued Debris
Test results of a 15MJ hypervelocity impact test.
Document | 13th Hypervelocity Impact Symposium Abstract |
Authors | Josh E. Miller, Ph.D., Alan Davis, Eric L. Christiansen, Ph.D., Dana M. Lear |
Issued | April 27 - May 1, 2015 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20140006462.pdf |
Micro-Meteoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) Protection Overview
Introduction to MMOD environments, observed impact damage, risk assessment process, MMOD protection, and the Hypervelocity Impact Technology (HVIT) group at NASA/JSC.
Document | NASA TN-62122 |
Authors | Eric L. Christiansen, Ph.D., Dana M. Lear, James L. Hyde |
Issued | 2019 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20190001193.pdf |
Hypervelocity Impact Testing and MMOD Risk Reduction
Introduction to MMOD shield impact testing and methods to reduce MMOD risk.
Document | NASA TN-62120 |
Authors | Eric L. Christiansen, Ph.D., Dana M. Lear, James L. Hyde |
Issued | September 2018 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20190000845.pdf |
Effects of Operating Parameters on MMOD Risk
Brief overview of effects of spacecraft altitude, inclination, year, orientation, and mission duration on MMOD risk.
Document | NASA TN-62119 |
Authors | Eric L. Christiansen, Ph.D., Dana M. Lear, James L. Hyde |
Issued | February 15, 2019 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20190000671.pdf |
Surveys of Returned ISS Hardware for MMOD Impacts
Conference paper describing MMOD inspection of several pieces of ISS hardware previously exposed to space environment and then returned to Earth.
Document | Conference Paper |
Authors | James L. Hyde, Eric L. Christiansen, Ph.D., Dana M. Lear, Kornel Nagy, Ph.D., E.L. Berger |
Issued | 2017 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20170003824.pdf |
Charts | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20170003814.pdf |
NASA Working Group #3 MMOD Protection Summary
Proceedings of the 2016 IADC Working Group #3.
Document | PowerPoint Charts |
Authors | Eric L. Christiansen, Ph.D., Kornel Nagy, Ph.D., James L. Hyde |
Issued | 34th Interagency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) 29 March – 1 April 2016 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20170003814.pdf |
HVI ballistic limit characterization of fused silica thermal panes
Discussion of results of hypervelocity impact tests of fused silica (glass) panes.
Document | Conference Paper |
Authors | J.E. Miller, W.E. Bohl, E.L. Christiansen, B.A. Davis, K.D. Deighton |
Issued | The 13th Hypervelocity Impact Symposium, 2015 |
Website | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20150001651.pdf |
BUMPER: A Tool for Analyzing Spacecraft Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris Risk
Paper introduces the NASA BUMPER software and demonstrates how it is used to analyze spacecraft micrometeoroid and orbital debris risk.
Document | Paper |
Authors | D. M. Lear, E.L. Christiansen, J.L. Hyde |
Issued | 1st International Orbital Debris Conference (IOC), December 2019 |
Website (Poster) | https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/orbitaldebris2019/eposter/6120.pdf |
Website (Paper) | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20205011690.pdf |