With Catastrophes In Mind, Supercomputing Project Simulates Space Junk Collision

aarondubrow writes "Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin developed a fundamentally new way of simulating fabric impacts that captures the fragmentation of the projectiles and the shock response of the target. Running hundreds of simulations on supercomputers at the Texas Advanced Computing Center, they assisted NASA in the development of ballistic limit curves that predict whether a shield will be perforated when hit by a projectile of a given size and speed. The framework they developed also allows them to study the impact of projectiles on body armor materials and to predict the response of different fabric weaves upon impact." With thousands of known pieces of man-made space junk, as well plenty of natural ones, it's no idle concern.

Asteroid Net?

[Anonymous Coward]

So they can use this to determine what high-tech fabric they should use to catch any large Earth-impact asteroids in a giant net?

Any new NASA job posting should include "dog catching or butterfly collecting experience required".

I don't get it

[loosescrews]

Is there a connection between the title and summary?

Re:

[Smivs]

Is there a connection between the title and summary?

Nope, but then this is /.

Re:I don't get it

[iggymanz]

at least he didn't read the article, we don't tolerate that kind of crap around here

Re:

[Dabido]

Yes, they're simulating collisions between materials (fabrics) that can be used in the manufacture of things like spaceships and ISS's etc, with things that can be found in space, like bits of asteroid, space debris etc. to see how the materials react.

"Space Junk Collision"

[Titus Groan]

sounds like geek pr0n.

Ballistics Tests

[NobleSavage]

The summary sounds like the experiment would be good for ballistics tests. I'm not sure what the Title means.

What about spin?

[Antique Geekmeister]

I've seen numerous studies and theories about the ballistic impact of asteroid strikes and satellite collisions. I've seen nothing on the _spin_, the angular momentum, imparted by such impacts. Even if the shield survives, if the angular momentum imparted by an off-center impact is large enough, the impacted satellite or space craft could well be spinning faster than its available rocket resources can compensate for, or even beyond the ability of its communications and guidance systems to plan a recovery. This possibility could actually be made _worse_ by installing effective shielding. An impact that would have previously left a small hole through the spacecraft would instead be stopped or deflected and instead deposit far more angular momentum.

Has anyone here seen or participated in such analyses?

Re:

[Chrontius]

History suggests that "small holes" are less likely than "complete disintegration" - small holes in hypergolic fuel tanks tend to end messily, it seems.

Re:

[iggymanz]

just as with projectiles from a gun, the angular momentum of space debris including asteroids is very tiny compared to total momentum; rotational kinetic energy tiny compared to total KE.......

wow!! what a good news!

[chonang]

They can help NASA to move a head to the furture. :)