(Top) Prof. Alessandro Francesconi (UPD), Dr Leonardo Barilaro (UM). Dr Robert Camilleri (UM), Dr Chiara Falsetti (OU), Dr Cinzia Giacomuzzo (UPD). Photo by Dr Lorenzo Olivieri (UPD).
It is difficult to imagine a world without satellite communication. The internet, TV, radio, GPS and most telecommunications as we know it. The ever-increasing number of Earth-orbiting spacecraft produce a dramatic rise in the risk of suffering damage from space debris. Space debris is any man-made objects in orbit that no longer has a useful purpose.
Satellites are equipped with shields that can withstand impacts from debris smaller than 1 mm. Conversely, debris of the order of a few centimeters can be detected by radars and satellites in collision course would take evasive maneuvers. However, space debris between 1 mm and 10 mm at low Earth orbit (where velocities are over 5 km/s) pose a threat to orbiting satellites as these are too small to detect and contain significant kinetic energy to damage the satellite shields.
Most modern materials used in shields are tested to establish if it can withstand specific impacts. However, there is a significant research interest to quantify the level of damage following an impact. This is the topic of this research, led by Dr Robert Camilleri and Dr Leonardo Barilaro from the Institute of Aerospace Technologies within the University of Malta.
The UM academics have developed a concept through which upon impact, thermal sensors measure the rise in temperature in the material, from which the kinetic energy can be worked back. This allows to quantify the level of damage suffered by the shield. The state of the satellite’s mission can also be established. This technique has never been explored before, due to difficulties related to the complexity of the phenomenon.
The UM academics have developed a concept through which upon impact, thermal sensors measure the rise in temperature in the material, from which the kinetic energy can be worked back. This allows to quantify the level of damage suffered by the shield. The state of the satellite’s mission can also be established. This technique has never been explored before, due to difficulties related to the complexity of the phenomenon.
The UM academics have collaborated with Prof. Alessandro Francesconi and his team Dr Cinzia Giacomuzzi, and Dr Lorenzo Olivieri from the Centro di Ateneo di Studi e Attivita’ Spaziali 'Giuseppe Colombo' (CISAS) of the University of Padova, and Dr Paul Beard and Dr Chiara Falsetti from the Institute of Thermofluids within the University of Oxford, to design, manufacture and test the system. Preliminary results indicate that the system achieved it’s intended goal, with the team currently working towards a joint publication.
As with all research, the quest to answer one question often results in new ones being generated, and which remain unanswered. What is certain is that this experiment is an important milestone, and an important step for further collaboration between the University of Malta, the University of Oxford and University of Padova in the field of space research.
As with all research, the quest to answer one question often results in new ones being generated, and which remain unanswered. What is certain is that this experiment is an important milestone, and an important step for further collaboration between the University of Malta, the University of Oxford and University of Padova in the field of space research.
Project ‘CaDetS - A Calorimetric Detection System for Hyper Velocity Impacts’ has been funded thanks to the Internationalisation Partnership Awards Scheme (IPAS-2018-008) by the Malta Council for Science & Technology (MCST).