Abstract: A shield for protecting spacecraft from impact with particles having a wide range of velocities includes three elements. Sets of spacers are used to secure the elements in positions in which they are separated from each other selected distances. The bumper element is the outermost element and is composed of ceramic fabric material or tin and is utilized to vaporize or melt a high velocity particle upon impact therewith. The intermediate element is a cloud stopper element and is composed of a metallic layer over a graphite epoxy layer and is used to absorb small fragments resulting from high velocity impacts with the bumper element. The innermost element is a fragment stopper element and is utilized to absorb low velocity particles. The shield elements generally enclose the spacecraft and are mounted onto hardpoint end portions of the spacecraft so that impact forces are not transmitted directly to impact sensitive portions of the spacecraft.

Abstract: A shield for shielding against radiation from a nuclear blast. The shield comprised of an aluminum body structure, a tin sheet bonded to the outer surface of the aluminum body structure, a glass filament reinforced epoxy resin matrix composite plastic material wrapped about the tin material and an outer layer of external thermal ablative insulation. The glass filament wrapping of the tin material causes the tin material to act as an effective shielding material by maintaining integrity of the tin when exposed to radiation.