Vulnerability of Space Shuttle to Impact by Meteor

In summary, a golf ball sized or BB-sized meteor traveling at 60,000 km/hour could potentially puncture the metal skin of a shuttle, creating an air leak that would be catastrophic.
  • #1
Thecla
131
10
I have wondered how vulnerable is the Space Shuttle to an impact by a small meteor. If a golf ball sized or even a marble sized meteor struck the shuttle, isn't there a very strong possibility of puncturing the shuttle? Would a small hole in the shuttle be catastrophic, causing all the air to escape? Are the astronauts equipped to handle such an emergency?
I don't want to hear that the probability of an event like this is low. If you are up there long enough, it will happen.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
A golf ball sized meteor on a head-on collision course would utterly destroy the space shuttle if it hit anything dense enough to slow it down on the way through. Otherwise, rapid decompression would on its own be catastrophic and it would be unlikely that the astronauts could react fast enough to save themselves... and even if they did, a space shuttle with a shattered windshield couldn't possibly survive re-entry.
 
  • #3
I think I would be more worried about the International Space Station(ISS)
In any event, I know for a fact that the ISS has emergency portable respirators and I would assume that the Space Shuttle does as well.

As far as how catastrophic a small hole would be to the shuttle I don't know. Too many variable factors(location, size, penetration)
And again, as an assumption, I could envision the the shuttle has some type of "emergency patches" that can be internally applied. But not sure.

Good question though.
 
  • #4
A golf ball sized chunk of iron with a mass of 280g in a head-on collision at 60,000 km/hr carries a kinetic energy of 34 megajoules, equivalent to about 8 tons of tnt.
 
  • #5
Wow. I would call that catastrophic indeed!
 
  • #6
I am sorry. I didn't mean to destroy the whole shuttle, I just wanted to create a hole for an air leak. So let's stick with marble- sized or BB-sized iron meteors. Traveling at 60 000 km/hour, is it a given that a direct hit at a 90 degree angle would penetrate the metallic part of a shuttle. I know that a light weight is an important factor in putting these things in orbit, so they are not armored. Its skin must be pretty thin.
 

1. What is the likelihood of a meteor impact on the space shuttle?

The likelihood of a meteor impact on the space shuttle is extremely low. NASA has implemented multiple safety measures to prevent collisions with space debris and has continuously monitored the trajectory of the shuttle to avoid potential impacts.

2. How much damage can a meteor impact cause to the space shuttle?

The extent of damage caused by a meteor impact on the space shuttle depends on various factors such as the size and speed of the meteor, as well as the location of impact. NASA has designed the shuttle to withstand small impacts and has emergency protocols in place in case of larger impacts.

3. Can a meteor impact cause the space shuttle to crash?

It is highly unlikely for a meteor impact to cause the space shuttle to crash. As mentioned, NASA has implemented safety measures and has designed the shuttle to withstand small impacts. In addition, the shuttle is equipped with backup systems and emergency protocols to ensure the safety of the crew in case of an impact.

4. How does NASA track potential meteor impacts on the space shuttle?

NASA uses a network of ground-based and space-based telescopes to track potential meteor impacts on the space shuttle. They also use radar and other specialized instruments to detect and track space debris that could pose a threat to the shuttle.

5. Has the space shuttle ever been impacted by a meteor?

To date, there has been no recorded instance of the space shuttle being impacted by a meteor. However, there have been instances of minor impacts from space debris, which have been successfully managed by NASA's safety protocols and systems.

Similar threads

  • Aerospace Engineering
Replies
1
Views
6K
  • Classical Physics
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
3K
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • Sci-Fi Writing and World Building
2
Replies
52
Views
4K
  • Aerospace Engineering
Replies
2
Views
7K
  • Sci-Fi Writing and World Building
Replies
18
Views
5K
  • Sci-Fi Writing and World Building
Replies
21
Views
853
  • Sci-Fi Writing and World Building
Replies
2
Views
2K
Back
Top