Space Debris Sensor studies impact of small objects in low orbit
NASA scientists are set to learn more about the damage caused to the International Space Station by microdebris in Earth's low orbit with the deployment of the Space Debris Sensor (SDS). The one-metre-square device will measure the speed and density of particles between 1mm and 10cm, as well as the effects of their impact. Should the SDS perform well, scientists could extend their field of study to areas where there is even more debris.

The International Space Station (ISS) is about to get a big upgrade to study very tiny bits of space junk floating in Earth orbit.

Called the Space Debris Sensor (SDS), the one-square-meter array has a series of microsensors to study what happens when it’s struck by objects the size of flecks of paint or other particles less than four inches (10 cm) in size.

It’s a first step in studying this virtually untrackable space debris population. As Science Magazine points out, there may be future missions at higher orbits, figuring out where the majority of small space junk and micrometeoroids reside and designing future spacecraft orbits based around that. It could also help figure out how best to shield a craft to avoid a fatal event if an errant screw strikes it at high speed.