MICROMETEORITE, ORBITAL DEBRIS AND KINETIC ENERGY PROTECTION
The Air Force Research Lab - Space Vehicles Directorate awarded Atomic-6 $1.25 million in funding to develop an innovative, low-cost, and low-volume alternative to traditional Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) protection, currently dominated by the Whipple Shield technology pioneered by Fred Whipple in the 1940s. This effort resulted in the creation of Space Armor™, a cutting-edge protective solution designed as 1' x 1' adhesive tiles for easy integration onto spacecraft surfaces. Space Armor™ offers exceptional defense against hypervelocity impacts reaching speeds of >7km/s, with two specialized variants: Space Armor™ Lite, engineered to protect against particles up to 3mm in diameter, and Space Armor™ Max, capable of withstanding impacts from particles up to 12.5mm in diameter.
Direct-to-Phase II SBIR Contract:
Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) Contract:
The US Space Force - Space Systems Command awarded Atomic-6 $3.8 million, including matching funds, to advance the development of Space Armor™ tiles. The initiative aims to qualify the product according to the rigorous SMC-S-016 standards, demonstrate Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP), and refine the design.
Whipple Shield | Deformed After Impact | Credit: NASA
Solid Aluminum | Deformed After Impact | Credit: ESA
Space Armor™ Lite Tile
Space Armor™ Lite Tile | Side View Post-Impact