WORLDTECHAtomic-6 says its Space Armor tiles have reached orbit for the first time
Atomic-6 has announced that its Space Armor composite tiles reached orbit for the first time, launching on the Bandwagon-5 dedicated rideshare mission. The company presents the flight as the technology's first step beyond ground-based hypervelocity testing.
First flight of the tiles
The company says the tiles flew on the Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission, which it calls the technology's first flight demonstration. According to Atomic-6, the flight moves the tiles from testing on the ground to their first operational use in space.
Protection against micrometeoroids and debris
The tiles are intended to shield critical spacecraft systems from micrometeoroids and orbital debris, known as MMOD. Atomic-6 frames its work around the so-called Kessler Syndrome, a cascade of debris collisions that could leave parts of Earth's orbit unusable for satellites and space missions.
Lighter design than metal shields
Atomic-6 says its tiles are lighter and thinner than traditional metallic Whipple shields. The company adds that they are designed to resist fragmentation on impact, which it argues reduces the risk of generating further hazardous debris.
Open questions
- How the tiles perform over time in orbit has yet to be shown?
- Which spacecraft will carry the tiles on later missions?