Shield penetration risk is a function of many parameters. The
Bumper code contains the current NASA meteoroid and orbital debris
engineering model. This information is combined with the
3D ISS finite element model in order to determine the expected impacting particle size distribution,
approach direction, and total quantity of surface impacts. Finally, the program
computes the number of penetrating impacts based on the shield ballistic limit equations
defined in the model.
Here is the QuickTime VR movie of the ISS at this stage of the analysis.
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