Spacecraft shield

Abstract

A shield comprised of carbon nanotube materials is used to provide a level of protection to a spacecraft. Shield segments are produced in a facility in space. The segments are transported from the facility to a vicinity of a spacecraft hull. The segments are assembled over the hull to substantially cover an area of the hull.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing and deploying a shield for use with a spacecraft to provide some protection to the spacecraft's hull against space debris comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a facility in space to grow carbon nanotubes in a low gravity environment;   b) producing a shield segment comprised of carbon nanotubes within the facility, wherein the shield segment is in a shape to substantially conform to a segment of the outer surface of a spacecraft hull;   c) transporting the shield segment outside the facility;   d) placing the shield segment in the vicinity of a corresponding area of the spacecraft's hull;   e) attaching the carbon nanotube shield segments together in the general vicinity of the outer surface of the spacecraft's hull; and   f) repeating steps b) through e) until the carbon nanotube shield segments substantially enclose the hull of the spacecraft.   
     
     
         2 . A method of producing and deploying a shield for use with a spacecraft to provide some protection to the spacecraft's hull against space debris comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a facility in space to grow carbon nanotubes in a low gravity environment;   b) producing a receiving type shield segment comprised of carbon nanotubes within the facility, wherein the shield segment is in a shape to substantially conform to a segment of the outer surface of a spacecraft hull;   c) producing a retaining type shield segment comprised of carbon nanotubes within the facility, wherein the shield segment is in a shape to substantially conform to a segment of the outer surface of a spacecraft hull;   c) transporting the receiving and retaining type shield segments outside the facility;   d) placing the shield segments in the vicinity of a corresponding area of the spacecraft's outer hull and connecting the receiving and retaining type shield structures together; and   e) repeating steps b) through d) until the carbon nanotube shield segments substantially enclose the hull of the spacecraft.