SHIELDING AGAINST NATURAL AND MAN-MADE SPACE DEBRIS - A GROWING CHALLENGE

In presenting a summary of the work on space debris being undertaken at ESA in the framework of an ESTEC Technology Programme, this paper reviews the physics of hypervelocity impacts and their potential effects on spacecraft structures. The current status of both theoretical and experimental work in support of the Columbus Programme is reported and a strategy for continuing investigation of shielding performance for future manned and unmanned missions is proposed.