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Printer FriendlyRelease Date: November 10, 1992
Media Contact: Media & External Communications, (509) 375-3776
BATTELLE DETECTION SYSTEM BLOWS THE WHISTLE ON SPACE DEBRIS
RICHLAND, Washington -- While a pebble may simply chip a car's windshield as it's kicked off the roadway, space debris even a fraction of that size may create a more serious hazard to a spacecraft as it travels through space.
To address this concern, researchers at Battelle's Pacific Northwest Laboratories are developing special detection systems to spot punctures from micrometeoroids and other space debris or leaks in the seals of the U.S. Space Station Freedom. Battelle is performing the work for The Boeing Company, Huntsville, Alabama, -- prime contractor to NASA for development of the space station modules.
"In the space station it will be critical to locate and repair leaks and punctures within minutes to reduce the loss of valuable air supplies," said Wayne Lechelt, Battelle's project manager. "Air reserves will be limited as additional air supplies must be transported to the station by the space shuttle. No more than four and one-half pounds of air a day can leak from the station without posing an operational problem."
The station will be a multipurpose scientific center, permanently staffed by NASA astronauts and visiting international astronauts from Japan and Europe. Deployment is scheduled to begin in the mid-to-late 1990s, with full operation planned early in the year 2000.
Through the Boeing-Huntsville contract, Battelle is developing full- scale, functional leak detection prototypes for final testing by Boeing and will assist in writing the specifications for final production. Previously, Battelle completed feasibility studies on the system through its role as operator of the Pacific Northwest Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy.
To locate seal leaks, a sensor system is being developed at Battelle
which will detect a loss of air pressure in the monitored area.
The pressure sensors will be located in the space cavities between
all three-paned windows and along the seals in hatches and berthing
rings throughout the space station.
"Since several hundred feet of seals will be used in the space
station, it is inevitable that slow leaks of minute quantities of
air will occur in some of the seals," said Chester Shepard, developer
of the pressure sensor component. "The pressure sensors will provide
continual air pressure readings and alert station managers to any
significant air loss so leaking seals can be repaired before they
become a threat."
The second component consists of a network of acoustic sensors
on the body of the space station to detect sound waves caused by
impacts or punctures from micrometeoroids and other space debris.
"Through the use of sound waves, the acoustic emission monitoring
system will detect any impacts to the station and then monitor the
area for damage," said Mark Friesel, developer of the acoustic system.
"We've taken a proven technology used for more than a decade in
the nuclear industry to identify cracks in pressure vessels and
adapted it for use on the space station."
Weight and size are critical factors in determining the type of
leak detection system that economically can be transported into
space.
"The cost to transport materials into space is estimated at $5,000
a pound, so it is essential to use a compact detection system weighing
only 10 to 20 pounds," said Douglas Lemon, initiator of the Battelle
project.
"Therefore, the final system will be miniaturized for space use,
resulting in more than a 50 percent decrease in size, weight and
power consumption compared with similar systems used on earth."
The final detection system will be highly energy efficient as the
entire space station is designed to function on minimal energy --
comparable to the electrical power required to operate approximately
70 microwave ovens. In addition to providing data for use in developing
a space station detection system, Battelle researchers believe the
miniature detection systems could be adapted for use in new safety
enhancement technologies for military and civilian aircraft.
Battelle's Pacific Northwest Division, with laboratories in Richland,
Seattle and Sequim, Washington, performs research and development
for industrial sponsors and government agencies. The Division is
a component of Battelle Memorial Institute, an international technology
organization.
