CST: A new semi-empirical tool for simulating spacecraft collisions in orbit

Francesconi, Alessandro; Giacomuzzo, Cinzia; Olivieri, Lorenzo; Sarego, Giulia; Duzzi, Matteo; Feltrin, Francesco; Valmorbida, Andrea; Bunte, Karl Dietrich; Deshmukh, Meenakshi; Farahvashi, Esfandiar; Pervez, Jewel; Zaake, Matthias; Cardone, Tiziana; Wilde, D.

doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2019.04.035

Cited by 21 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…To date, such tools present limitations related to the novel materials employed on modern satellites (e.g., CFRP and other composites) and the evolution of manufacturing solutions; in addition, impact scenarios including glancing impacts cannot be considered in their complexity. To overcome the limitations of such solutions, the University of Padova developed the Collision Simulation Tool Solver (CSTS) in the framework of a contract awarded by the European Space Agency to CISAS and the German enterprise Etamax Space GmbH [51]. In CSTS, colliding objects are modelled with a mesh of Macroscopic Elements (MEs), representing major satellite parts, connected by structural links to form a system-level net (see Figure 12).…”

Section: Impact Modelling Toolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research at the University of Padova in the Field of Space Debris Impacts against Satellites: An Overview of Activities in the Last 10 Years

et al. 2023

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Space debris represent a threat to satellites in orbit around Earth. In the case of impact, satellites can be subjected to damage spanning from localized craterization to subsystem failure, to complete loss of the vehicle; large collision events may lead to fragmentation of the spacecraft. Simulating and testing debris impacts may help in understanding the physics behind these events, modelling the effects, and developing dedicated protection systems and mitigation strategies. In this context, the Space Debris group at the University of Padova investigates in-space collisions with experimental campaigns performed in a dedicated Hypervelocity Impact Facility and with numerical simulations with commercial and custom software. In this paper, an overview is given of the last 10 years of research activities performed at the University of Padova. First, the hypervelocity impact testing facility is described and the main experimental campaigns performed in the last few years are summarized. The second part of this work describes impact modelling research advances, focusing on the simulation of complex collision scenarios.

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Section: Impact Modelling Toolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research at the University of Padova in the Field of Space Debris Impacts against Satellites: An Overview of Activities in the Last 10 Years

et al. 2023

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“…Steiner et al [72] focused on the impact of a microgravity environment on the long space duration of astronauts, and they developed a vision-assisted inertial navigation system to determine human's postures for the optimization of the net habitable volume (NHV). Francesconi et al [73] discussed potential catastrophes when an orbital object hits debris or artificial object in space; they developed a collision simulation tool (CST) to assess the orbital impacts of large debris and satellites and predict the distribution of fragments when an object is crashed.…”

Section: ) Human Presence In Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

The State of the Art of Information Integration in Space Applications

Yung

et al. 2022

IEEE Access

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This paper aims to present a comprehensive survey on information integration (II) in space informatics. With an ever-increasing scale and dynamics of complex space systems, II has become essential in dealing with the complexity, changes, dynamics, and uncertainties of space systems. The applications of space II (SII) require addressing some distinctive functional requirements (FRs) of heterogeneity, networking, communication, security, latency, and resilience; while limited works are available to examine recent advances of SII thoroughly. This survey helps to gain the understanding of the state of the art of SII in sense that (1) technical drivers for SII are discussed and classified; (2) existing works in space system development are analyzed in terms of their contributions to space economy, divisions, activities, and missions; (3) enabling space information technologies are explored at aspects of sensing, communication, networking, data analysis, and system integration; (4) the importance of first-time right (FTR) for implementation of a space system is emphasized, the limitations of digital twin (DT-I) as technological enablers are discussed, and a concept digital-triad (DT-II) is introduced as an information platform to overcome these limitations with a list of fundamental design principles; (5) the research challenges and opportunities are discussed to promote SII and advance space informatics in future.INDEX TERMS Information integration (II), space informatics, digital triad (DT-II), internet of digital-triad things (IoDTT), first-time right (FTR), space information integration (SII). FIGURE 2. Technical drivers of II applications.

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“…In this context, developing and updating debris population models [17] as well as analysing the vulnerability of spacecraft architectures and components [18,19] is essential to finding solutions for reducing the degradation of the debris environment. In addition, ground test activities on large [20][21][22] and small [23,24] spacecraft mock-ups, CubeSat [25] and Picosat [26,27] models, as well as the development of numerical simulation tools [28][29][30][31][32] through the utilization of ground test data and space breakup event observations are fundamental steps in understanding the generation of space debris formation [25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design of the Sabot-Stopping System for a Single-Stage Light-Gas Gun for High-Velocity Impacts

Barilaro,

Wylie,

Shafeeg

2023

Applied Sciences

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Collisions of space debris and micrometeorites with spacecraft represent an existential hazard for human activities in near-Earth orbits. Currently, guidelines, policies, and best practices are encouraged to help mitigate further propagation of this space debris field from redundant spacecraft and satellites. However, the existing space debris field is an environment that still poses a great threat and requires the design of contingency and fail-safe systems for new spacecraft. In this context, both the monitoring and tracking of space debris impact paths, along with knowledge of spacecraft design features that can withstand such impacts, are essential. Regarding the latter, terrestrial test facilities allow for replicating of space debris collisions in a safe and controlled laboratory environment. In particular, light-gas guns allow launching impactors at speeds in the high-velocity and hypervelocity ranges. The data acquired from these tests can be employed to validate in-orbit observations and structural simulations and to verify spacecraft components’ survivability. Typically, projectiles are launched and protected using a sabot system. This assembly, known as a launch package, is fired towards a sabot-stopping system. The sabot separates from the rest of the launch package, to avoid target contamination, and allows the projectile to travel towards the target through an opening in the assembly. The response and survivability of the sabot-stopping system, along with the transmission of the forces to the light-gas gun structure and prevention of target contamination, is an important design feature of these test apparatuses. In the framework of the development of Malta’s first high-velocity impact facility, particular attention was dedicated to this topic: in this paper, the description of a novel sabot-stopping system is provided. The system described in this research is mechanically decoupled from the interaction with the impact chamber and the light-gas gun pump tube; this solution avoids damage in case of failures and allows easier operations during the pre- and post-test phases.

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CST: A new semi-empirical tool for simulating spacecraft collisions in orbit

Cited by 21 publications

References 10 publications

Research at the University of Padova in the Field of Space Debris Impacts against Satellites: An Overview of Activities in the Last 10 Years

Research at the University of Padova in the Field of Space Debris Impacts against Satellites: An Overview of Activities in the Last 10 Years

The State of the Art of Information Integration in Space Applications

Design of the Sabot-Stopping System for a Single-Stage Light-Gas Gun for High-Velocity Impacts

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