Space station JEM design implementation and testing for orbital debris protection

✍ Scribed by Kuniaki Shiraki; Fumio Terada; Masayuki Harada

• Book ID: 104344132
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 578 KB
• Volume: 20
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0734-743X
• DOI: 10.1016/s0734-743x(97)87458-1

✦ Synopsis

The Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) is the Japanese contribution to the International Space Station (ISS) Program. The core part of JEM is a Pressurized Module where the crew conducts space experiments in a microgravity environment in space. The development of a shield design to protect against micrometeoroids and orbital debris (MM/OD) has been a key issue for the permanent manned space station which is expected to have an operational life exceeding 10 years. Many technical approaches forMM/OD protection have been studied. As the launch of the space station elements draws near, the shield design has become mature, and the technical test data for the MM/OD shielding obtained has increased confidence in its performance. NASDA, which i s responsible for JEM design and development, has conducted a series of tests and simulations to define the MM/OD shield configuration and design. The structural failure due to MM/OD strikes has also been assessed for the combined shield and pressure shell configuration.