Protecting the Space Station from Meteoroids and Orbital Debris (1997)

Summary: The chance of a spacecraft colliding with meteoroids or orbital debris increases with the size of the spacecraft and the time it spends in orbit. The International Space Station (ISS), a multibillion-dollar crewed orbiting laboratory, will be the largest spacecraft ever built and is expected to remain in orbit for at least 15 years. Due to its large size and long operational lifetime, the ISS will face a significant risk of being struck by potentially damaging meteoroids or orbital debris. This report is the National Research Council assessment of ISS program efforts to protect the space station from meteoroids and debris.