Ask HN: Satellite and debris collisions: media hype or real problem?

2 pointsmuunbo2 comments

If you work in aerospace, do you have to actually consider collisions with other satellites or with debris?

How bad of a problem is it really and how do you solve it?

The International Space Station gets hit on a regular basis, and had to be built with bulky impact shielding and window shutters to avoid being damaged by small impacts. The windowpanes have chips and divots. There are holes in the solar panels. Most recently something blew a chunk of Whipple Shielding off of the Canadarm, which probably would have rendered the arm nonfunctional if the shielding had not been there. Other low earth orbit satellites are either built with shielding or run the risk of being disabled.

https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/news/article/canadarm2-...

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_debris

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