Integrated System of Spacecraft Impact Monitoring and Shape Reconstruction

Abstract

When the spacecraft is in orbit, there is a risk of high-speed impact by space debris. After the spacecraft is impacted, it is of great significance to determine the exact location of the spacecraft and the structural changes caused by the impact. However, the conventional impact monitoring methods are mainly realized by sticking sensors on the surface of spacecraft structures. Such contact measurement methods generally have one or more of the problems of large size, heavy mass, complex system, easy to fall off, and do not have the function of reconstructing the shape of the impacted part of the spacecraft. This study proposes an integrated system of spacecraft impact monitoring and shape reconstruction, which realizes the organic integration of positioning and shape reconstruction and can help astronauts and ground technicians to timely know the impact location and shape changes after spacecraft damage.