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Quantifying and Improving International Space Station Survivability Following Orbital Debris PenetrationThe increase of the orbital debris environment in low-earth orbit has prompted NASA to develop analytical tools for quantifying and lowering the likelihood of crew loss following orbital debris penetration of the International Space Station (ISS). NASA uses the Manned Spacecraft and Crew Survivability (MSCSurv) computer program to simulate the events that may cause crew loss following orbital debris penetration of ISS manned modules, including: (1) critical cracking (explosive decompression) of the module; (2) critical external equipment penetration (such as hydrazine and high pressure tanks); (3) critical internal system penetration (guidance, control, and other vital components); (4) hazardous payload penetration (furnaces, pressure bottles, and toxic substances); (5) crew injury (from fragments, overpressure, light flash, and temperature rise); (6) hypoxia from loss of cabin pressure; and (7) thrust from module hole causing high angular velocity (occurring only when key Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) equipment is damaged) and, thus, preventing safe escape vehicle (EV) departure. MSCSurv is also capable of quantifying the 'end effects' of orbital debris penetration, such as the likelihood of crew escape, the probability of each module depressurizing, and late loss of station control. By quantifying these effects (and their associated uncertainties), NASA is able to improve the likelihood of crew survivability following orbital debris penetration due to improved crew operations and internal designs.
Document ID
20020023411
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Williamsen, Joel (Denver Univ. CO United States)
Evans, Hilary (Denver Univ. CO United States)
Bohl, Bill (Denver Univ. CO United States)
Evans, Steven (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Parker, Nelson
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Report/Patent Number
IAA-01-IAA.6.5.04
Meeting Information
Meeting: 52nd International Astronautical Congress
Location: Toulouse
Country: France
Start Date: October 1, 2001
End Date: October 5, 2001
Sponsors: International Academy of Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC8-176
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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