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What are the odds of an impact ?

Given the variable dencity of the debris in the orbits of the comets and asteroids responcably for the major annual meteior showers,what are the odds that the ISS will suffer damage from a serious impact?

Update:

The recent addition of the solar power panels greatly increase the overall surface area of the station.

Update 2:

Have the bookies in Vegas put up odds yet?

4 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    There are several factors to consider.

    1. The ISS has the capability to maneuver away from debris. At what rate. I don't know.

    2. Is the ISS on the same orbital path at the same time as the meteor showers?

    3. The size of the ISS and the size of the debris.

    4. Has the ISS been hit by debris from any of the meteor showers that occurred prior?

    I don't really know what the odds would be. High I would presume.

    I did find a book about this particular subject that was written back in 1997 by the "Committee on International Space Station Meteoroid/Debris Risk Management" it is called "Protecting the Space Station from Meteoroids and Orbital Debris".

    There is even more information on the second link below.

    Great question

  • 1 decade ago

    The size has been increased but the impact that hits a solar cell is isolated from the rest of the power system by diodes so the battery power cant flow back into the cell.

  • 1 decade ago

    The odds are very high that the International Space Station will receive damage.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Good question. I have no idea how to calculate the odds. I'm sure the people at NASA have done some estimates. Look at their website.

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