Interaction between hypervelocity elongated projectile and screen protection of space vehicles

Abstract In the article, we study the efficiency of screen protection of space vehicles against hypervelocity elongated projectiles that are an analog of the most dangerous space debris. We analyze the kinetics of an elongated projectile penetration into a target after the projectile passes through screen protection. Parameters of an elongated projectile impact with copper and aluminum screens and a state of a cavern surface formed as a result of projectile penetration into metal target have been found. Rapid unloading of the penetration zone, the emergence of pores in the volume of the projectile material before their destruction in a jet flow region can explain the increase of efficiency of screen protection when evaporating space junk.