Free public lecture on 3rd July by Prof William Schoenberg, visiting Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Advanced Science and Technology: Spacecraft Protection Systems & The Problem of Orbital Debris

Register for this event on the eventbrite page here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spacecraft-protection-systems-the-problem-of-orbital-debris-tickets-63501472614

About the event:

Details:

6-6:30pm: Arrival and networking

6:30-7:30pm: Talk

7:30-8pm: Discussion and further networking

Summary:

Since Sputnik-1’s launch in 1957, the near-earth population of trackable space objects has grown from 1 to over 18,000. Of these 18,000+ trackable objects, only several hundred are operational spacecraft. The remainder are pieces of space junk - objects which no longer serve any useful purpose - fragments from explosions, the breakup of older satellites, or rocket boosters. In addition to the trackable objects, there are also several hundred thousand objects the size of marbles and several million objects the size of sand grains.

As a result, all spacecraft that operate in low-earth-orbit, including the International Space Station, are subject to high-speed impacts by space junk. The threat of damage from high-speed orbital debris particle impacts has become a significant design consideration in the development and construction of long duration earth-orbiting spacecraft. Even a marble-size piece of space debris can inflict considerable damage to, or even destroy, an orbiting spacecraft or satellite.

The challenge now faced by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and many other countries around the world is how can we design and build spacecraft that can survive in this hostile orbital environment?

About the speaker:

Dr. William P. Schonberg is a Professor in the Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering Department at Missouri S&T, and currently a Fulbright Distinguished Chair at Defence Science & Technology. He received his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, and his MS and PhD degrees from Northwestern University. A significant part of Dr. Schonberg's scholarly activities is dedicated to improving the safety of our astronauts as they work in space to improve our lives here on earth.

For more information please contact vic@ayaa.com.au