Engineers from McGill University in Canada and the Royal Military University of Canada have published a scientific paper on equipment capable of launching a projectile at speeds up to 10 km/s (36,000 km/h). Despite the involvement of the military university, a study published in a scientific journal shock wavesdesigned to help in the study of the impact meteorites on satellites and spaceships.

Earth simulations will help space projects

The speed at which the projectiles fly is very close to the speed meteorites and other space debris. According to Andrew Higgins, professor at McGill University, most collisions occur with objects moving at a speed of 11 km/s. He explains that while objects in low Earth orbit have a speed of 8 km/s, collisions occur at 90º angles – reaching speeds of 11 km/s. View a GIF of the collision by clicking here.

On-Earth simulations will be important to space agencies in developing spacecraft, space stations and satellites capable of withstanding impacts greater than 36,000 km/h. With plans for manned missions to the Moon and the ever-desired exploration on Mars, it is necessary that collisions with meteorites not endanger the lives of astronauts.

Space debris office European Space Agency (ESA) says that 31,360 pieces of debris are being tracked at an altitude of at least 10 cm in Earth orbit. However, it is estimated that there are more than 1 million clasts ranging in size from 1 to 10 cm and 130 million ranging in size from 1 mm to 1 cm.

In June, a micrometeorite hit James Webb.

OUR NASA announced in early June that one of the mirrors James Webb Space Telescope got hit by some micrometeorites. The most recent – and serious – collision took place between 23 and 25 May. Luckily, telescope it continues to work very well and you will have no problem capturing images.

micrometeorites the smallest meteors what you can imagine. They are the size of a grain of sand and go much faster than a formula car. MUCH FASTER. If falling into the sand already leaves you scratched, imagine that a small grain falls on you at a speed of a thousand kilometers per hour. Luckily, JWST it is made to withstand those impacts for a long time. But collision with micrometeorites will reduce their performance over the years – and this is to be expected.

OUR NASA showed that the five impacts suffered so far have not reduced the operational capability James Webb (remember: it cost $10 billion). O micrometeorite which caused the strongest impact, affected the C3 segment (see below) of the primary mirror, and “pierced” the team’s predictions about instrument degradation time. Still, it’s support. JWST will continue to do so for many years to come. It is designed with a high performance margin to ensure a long mission.

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Source: Tweek Town