29. What happens if we collide with a meteor? (A K2S Question)

From The Space Library

There is a facility at Johnson Space Center that predicts the statistical probability of an impact and the possible resulting damage. To minimize the chance of an impact causing a problem, the ISS is fitted with micro meteor shielding. This is composed of an outer thin metal sheet followed by an empty space followed by a blanket of composite material and finally the station metal shell. These shields are adequate to protect the ISS from penetration of smaller particles. Orbital debris greater than .5 inches in diameter can be tracked from the ground. If we know a piece of space debris is getting close, the ISS will perform an orbital burn to avoid the object. This is called a collision avoidance burn. However meteors cannot be tracked as they are not in orbit and so they do pose a risk. http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/feedback/search Search for shields. (See CDROM)

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Answer provided by Futron Corporation

Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer

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