Acoustic Sensors In Situ Space Debris Detector

Completed TRL 4 (started at 2, targeting 4)

Description

This is a feasibility study to determine whether acoustic sensors can be used to sense and measure benign impacts on solar array panels by small orbital debris. This is a continuation of work begun in FY 24 as a mid-year IRAD. The majority of the feasibility study involves drop testing of spherical projectiles to simulate impacts onto a flight-like solar arrays panel substrate in the range of 0.5 to 65 millijoules impact energy. FY 25 advancement is expected to include hypervelocity ground testing and design of a suitable data collection and transfer box.

Benefits

By measuring the impacts by small benign debris, the existing environment models for such debris can be confirmed or refined. Benign debris strikes can be used as a proxy for the flux of larger (but still not trackable) damaging debris objects. By measuring impacts in situ in real time, the first-ever data on potential variations based on seasons or related events can be measured.

Details

Technology area	Communications, Navigation, and Orbital Debris Tracking and Characterization Systems
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2024-10-01
End date	2025-09-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Cheryl J Gramling — cheryl.j.gramling@nasa.gov
Errol J Summerlin — errol.summerlin@nasa.gov
Georgia A Denolfo — georgia.a.denolfo@nasa.gov
Nikolaos Paschalidis — nikolaos.paschalidis@nasa.gov
Tiffany H Hoerbelt — tiffany.hoerbelt@nasa.gov
Umeshkumar D Patel — umeshkumar.d.patel@nasa.gov
Scott M Hull — scott.m.hull@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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