A report discusses multi-shock blankets, which are under investigation for use in protecting spacecraft against orbiting debris from prior spacecraft missions. Multi-shock blankets are described in comparison with early protective metallic "bumpers" and with a somewhat more recent invention called the "multi-shock shield." A multi-shock blanket is a stand-alone, self-contained shield system that includes several layers of ceramic (or equivalent) shields separated by a flexible foam material.
This work was done by Bruce D. Dvorak of The Boeing Company for Johnson Space Center. To obtain a copy of the report, "Multi-Shock Blanket" and copies of companion documents "Hypervelocity Impact Shield" (U. S. Patent 5,067,388) and "Multi-Shock Shield Support Study," access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at www.nasatech.com/tsp under the Materials category.
Title to this invention has been waived under the provisions of the National Aeronautics and Space Act {42 U.S.C. 2457(f)}, to The Boeing Company. Inquiries concerning licenses for its commercial development should be addressed to
The Boeing Company
ATTN: Bruce Dvorak
5301 Bolsa Avenue
M/C H020-F603
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Refer to MSC-22989, volume and number of this NASA Tech Briefs issue, and the page number.
