How is the space station protected from meteors?

Question

Meteors hits the earth all the time. What happens if one hits the space station.

Answer 1

From meteors they are not protected. Even from larger some meteorites they don't have much protection, but would have time to seal off the 'hit' compartment of the ISS before all the air leaked out.

As was mentioned before, most objects orbiting the earth at LEO altitudes of that size (down to meteorite size) are known and tracked. When a known small object is due to pass close to the ISS, they take precautions.

Micro-meteorites is another 'story'. They can't track these, and so it is unknown when or where they would strike the ISS. Protection is offered, though.

There are 2 metal skins for each module: the inner metal that the astronauts/cosmonauts can touch (except that most of the area is covered by equipement racks -- which could be considered a layer of protection in, of itself). The outer layer of aluminum alloy is that which is exposed to space, and which would be the first layer to be penetrated by a micro-meteorite.

In between the inner and outer layers of aluminum is some woven material and/or honeycomb aluminum. This middle layer is designed to absorb the majority of the energy from a micrometeroite hit, to it wouldn't have enough energy to penetrate the inner aluminum skin. The woven cloth is sort of like the Kevlar cloth they use in bullet-proof vests, only a lot thicker.

During the last shuttle mission, during EVA3, one of the astronauts had to (temporarily) remove an outer-layer panel to get at some wiring. You could plainly see the protective cloth in between the inner and outer metal layers.

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Answer 2

The outer surface of the space station is strong enough to withstand micrometerorites. It doesn't have any other protection.

The reason is that meters are actually very far apart. We see a lot hit the earth becasue it's a big target--8000 miles across. But the chances any will hit the space station are very low. If one did, it would most likely just punch a hole in a solar panel or something like that--though they are so few and far between that even that hasn't happened yet in the years the station has been up there.

If one did hit in just the right place,it could injjure or kill a person on board. But--your chances of getting hit by lightening on Earth are a lot higher.

Answer 3

I believe the living areas of the International Space Station have some amount of armor to protect them from small sand grains that could otherwise cause a leak. That said, any sufficiently large meteoroid would still be able to blast right through the space station despite the armor, and while the chances of this aren't very big, it is a constant threat that could at any time disable the space station and kill everyone inside.

Answer 4

It isn't protected. A meteor as small as a baseball could cause some serious, even life threatening damage to the station were one to hit in the right place.

Answer 5

Its not protected at all.

Its highly unlikely that is would be hit.

The Earth has tracking stations and, if anything large enough to be tracked is seen coming at the station, they can try to reposition the station in time to not be hit.

They track tens of thousands of items and debris in orbit all the time.

The Earth is much larger and has more gravity so, nt only is it a larger target but it also attracts them to some degree. It also has an atmosphere which burns up all but the largest of them before they hit.

Answer 6

the spacestation has minor manouvrability, and large meteors can be avoided, should space tracking spot them first ofcourse. Nasa keeps track of every littel bit of debry in orbit.

spacestations do get hit a lot by very tiny meteors, or well grains of dirt. it is lined with a special substance to prevent these from punching holes in the capsules. This is an insulating polyurethane lining, covered with gold tin foil to keep radiation out.

Answer 7

well large meteors dont hit the earth that much. so im assuming the metal is thick enough not to break.

Answer 8

success in the event that they seebig ones comingthey must be waiting to circulate out of ways. very small grain of sand length are stopped via the floor. they desire. and likely the cost ability there is plenty capability the very small ones and the floor turn to vapor solid thinking

Answer 9

They are protected by insurance!

Answer 10

by luck may be...