Kevlar Whipple-shield test

What would happen if a piece of space debris less than a centimetre in diameter hit an ATV? These pictures actually confirm that the kevlar-reinforced multi-layer whipple shield that protect ATVs are doing their job! Click on the images for more information from ESA’s Technology department where the first picture is featured as their image of the week.

ATV shielding impact test. Click for more info. Credits: ESA-Stijn Laagland.

Shield exterior. Credits: ESA

Innermost layer: hardly a scratch! Credits: ESA