Has any man-made satellite or space vehicle ever been hit by a natural meteoroid?












2












$begingroup$


For precision I'm excluding artificial meteoroids and satellite debris (which is discussed in another question) of all kinds. I'm also considering collisions large enough to produce a noticeable impact or scar (not truly microscopic dust that can only be detected from wear of the surfaces). Say something carrying at least 1J of kinetic energy.










share|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    If a satellite does not respond to radio signals anymore, how should we know what hapened?
    $endgroup$
    – Uwe
    4 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Possible duplicate of Why haven't more spacecraft/satellites been hit by debris? TL;DR: there's been plenty of macroscopic pitting from impacts.
    $endgroup$
    – Russell Borogove
    3 hours ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Those answers mostly talk about debris, this question specifically excludes that.
    $endgroup$
    – Organic Marble
    3 hours ago
















2












$begingroup$


For precision I'm excluding artificial meteoroids and satellite debris (which is discussed in another question) of all kinds. I'm also considering collisions large enough to produce a noticeable impact or scar (not truly microscopic dust that can only be detected from wear of the surfaces). Say something carrying at least 1J of kinetic energy.










share|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    If a satellite does not respond to radio signals anymore, how should we know what hapened?
    $endgroup$
    – Uwe
    4 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Possible duplicate of Why haven't more spacecraft/satellites been hit by debris? TL;DR: there's been plenty of macroscopic pitting from impacts.
    $endgroup$
    – Russell Borogove
    3 hours ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Those answers mostly talk about debris, this question specifically excludes that.
    $endgroup$
    – Organic Marble
    3 hours ago














2












2








2





$begingroup$


For precision I'm excluding artificial meteoroids and satellite debris (which is discussed in another question) of all kinds. I'm also considering collisions large enough to produce a noticeable impact or scar (not truly microscopic dust that can only be detected from wear of the surfaces). Say something carrying at least 1J of kinetic energy.










share|improve this question











$endgroup$




For precision I'm excluding artificial meteoroids and satellite debris (which is discussed in another question) of all kinds. I'm also considering collisions large enough to produce a noticeable impact or scar (not truly microscopic dust that can only be detected from wear of the surfaces). Say something carrying at least 1J of kinetic energy.







meteoroid






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 3 hours ago







Steve Linton

















asked 4 hours ago









Steve LintonSteve Linton

6,96411741




6,96411741












  • $begingroup$
    If a satellite does not respond to radio signals anymore, how should we know what hapened?
    $endgroup$
    – Uwe
    4 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Possible duplicate of Why haven't more spacecraft/satellites been hit by debris? TL;DR: there's been plenty of macroscopic pitting from impacts.
    $endgroup$
    – Russell Borogove
    3 hours ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Those answers mostly talk about debris, this question specifically excludes that.
    $endgroup$
    – Organic Marble
    3 hours ago


















  • $begingroup$
    If a satellite does not respond to radio signals anymore, how should we know what hapened?
    $endgroup$
    – Uwe
    4 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Possible duplicate of Why haven't more spacecraft/satellites been hit by debris? TL;DR: there's been plenty of macroscopic pitting from impacts.
    $endgroup$
    – Russell Borogove
    3 hours ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Those answers mostly talk about debris, this question specifically excludes that.
    $endgroup$
    – Organic Marble
    3 hours ago
















$begingroup$
If a satellite does not respond to radio signals anymore, how should we know what hapened?
$endgroup$
– Uwe
4 hours ago




$begingroup$
If a satellite does not respond to radio signals anymore, how should we know what hapened?
$endgroup$
– Uwe
4 hours ago




2




2




$begingroup$
Possible duplicate of Why haven't more spacecraft/satellites been hit by debris? TL;DR: there's been plenty of macroscopic pitting from impacts.
$endgroup$
– Russell Borogove
3 hours ago






$begingroup$
Possible duplicate of Why haven't more spacecraft/satellites been hit by debris? TL;DR: there's been plenty of macroscopic pitting from impacts.
$endgroup$
– Russell Borogove
3 hours ago






1




1




$begingroup$
Those answers mostly talk about debris, this question specifically excludes that.
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
3 hours ago




$begingroup$
Those answers mostly talk about debris, this question specifically excludes that.
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
3 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















2












$begingroup$

A History of Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris Impacts On The Space Shuttle lists the "top 20" strikes on space shuttle windows and radiators from 1992 to 2000; most of them are from debris but 4 appear to be from meteoroids. The biggest meteoroid hit appears to be a 5mm hole in a radiator from an 0.7mm meteoroid.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$





















    2












    $begingroup$

    Hypervelocity impacts on the space shuttle Orbiters were analyzed over the years to determine their origin.




    After the post-flight inspection is completed, JSC
    personnel analyze samples extracted from the impact
    sites using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped
    with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometers (EDXA). Such techniques
    allow engineers to determine whether the impactor was a naturally
    occurring meteoroid or man-made orbital debris.




    The paper ANALYSIS OF THE NASA SHUTTLE HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT DATABASE breaks down the source of the impacts for various regions of the Orbiter.



    The majority of the hits are from debris, but some are attributed to meteoroids. Here's an example, a chart showing the results from the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon areas of the Orbiters (mostly the wing leading edges and nosecap).



    enter image description here






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$













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      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes








      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      2












      $begingroup$

      A History of Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris Impacts On The Space Shuttle lists the "top 20" strikes on space shuttle windows and radiators from 1992 to 2000; most of them are from debris but 4 appear to be from meteoroids. The biggest meteoroid hit appears to be a 5mm hole in a radiator from an 0.7mm meteoroid.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$


















        2












        $begingroup$

        A History of Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris Impacts On The Space Shuttle lists the "top 20" strikes on space shuttle windows and radiators from 1992 to 2000; most of them are from debris but 4 appear to be from meteoroids. The biggest meteoroid hit appears to be a 5mm hole in a radiator from an 0.7mm meteoroid.






        share|improve this answer









        $endgroup$
















          2












          2








          2





          $begingroup$

          A History of Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris Impacts On The Space Shuttle lists the "top 20" strikes on space shuttle windows and radiators from 1992 to 2000; most of them are from debris but 4 appear to be from meteoroids. The biggest meteoroid hit appears to be a 5mm hole in a radiator from an 0.7mm meteoroid.






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$



          A History of Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris Impacts On The Space Shuttle lists the "top 20" strikes on space shuttle windows and radiators from 1992 to 2000; most of them are from debris but 4 appear to be from meteoroids. The biggest meteoroid hit appears to be a 5mm hole in a radiator from an 0.7mm meteoroid.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 3 hours ago









          Russell BorogoveRussell Borogove

          84.2k3282365




          84.2k3282365























              2












              $begingroup$

              Hypervelocity impacts on the space shuttle Orbiters were analyzed over the years to determine their origin.




              After the post-flight inspection is completed, JSC
              personnel analyze samples extracted from the impact
              sites using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped
              with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometers (EDXA). Such techniques
              allow engineers to determine whether the impactor was a naturally
              occurring meteoroid or man-made orbital debris.




              The paper ANALYSIS OF THE NASA SHUTTLE HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT DATABASE breaks down the source of the impacts for various regions of the Orbiter.



              The majority of the hits are from debris, but some are attributed to meteoroids. Here's an example, a chart showing the results from the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon areas of the Orbiters (mostly the wing leading edges and nosecap).



              enter image description here






              share|improve this answer











              $endgroup$


















                2












                $begingroup$

                Hypervelocity impacts on the space shuttle Orbiters were analyzed over the years to determine their origin.




                After the post-flight inspection is completed, JSC
                personnel analyze samples extracted from the impact
                sites using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped
                with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometers (EDXA). Such techniques
                allow engineers to determine whether the impactor was a naturally
                occurring meteoroid or man-made orbital debris.




                The paper ANALYSIS OF THE NASA SHUTTLE HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT DATABASE breaks down the source of the impacts for various regions of the Orbiter.



                The majority of the hits are from debris, but some are attributed to meteoroids. Here's an example, a chart showing the results from the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon areas of the Orbiters (mostly the wing leading edges and nosecap).



                enter image description here






                share|improve this answer











                $endgroup$
















                  2












                  2








                  2





                  $begingroup$

                  Hypervelocity impacts on the space shuttle Orbiters were analyzed over the years to determine their origin.




                  After the post-flight inspection is completed, JSC
                  personnel analyze samples extracted from the impact
                  sites using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped
                  with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometers (EDXA). Such techniques
                  allow engineers to determine whether the impactor was a naturally
                  occurring meteoroid or man-made orbital debris.




                  The paper ANALYSIS OF THE NASA SHUTTLE HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT DATABASE breaks down the source of the impacts for various regions of the Orbiter.



                  The majority of the hits are from debris, but some are attributed to meteoroids. Here's an example, a chart showing the results from the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon areas of the Orbiters (mostly the wing leading edges and nosecap).



                  enter image description here






                  share|improve this answer











                  $endgroup$



                  Hypervelocity impacts on the space shuttle Orbiters were analyzed over the years to determine their origin.




                  After the post-flight inspection is completed, JSC
                  personnel analyze samples extracted from the impact
                  sites using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped
                  with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometers (EDXA). Such techniques
                  allow engineers to determine whether the impactor was a naturally
                  occurring meteoroid or man-made orbital debris.




                  The paper ANALYSIS OF THE NASA SHUTTLE HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT DATABASE breaks down the source of the impacts for various regions of the Orbiter.



                  The majority of the hits are from debris, but some are attributed to meteoroids. Here's an example, a chart showing the results from the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon areas of the Orbiters (mostly the wing leading edges and nosecap).



                  enter image description here







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited 3 hours ago

























                  answered 3 hours ago









                  Organic MarbleOrganic Marble

                  54.2k3145231




                  54.2k3145231






























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