Table II. Safety Tests Test category Test description Purpose Conditions Results Explosion overpressure RTG/RHU exposure to static overpressures GPHS module exposure to static overpressures Test of RTG/RHU fuel containment capability under static overpressures characteristic of shuttle launch vehicle explosions 1070 + 50 psi static overpressure 2212 + 220 psi static overpressure Static overpressures alone did not yield any fuel release Overpressure-driven fuel clad velocities high enough to make impact damage possible Compact and flyer plate-type fragments Target: GPHS half modules Projectile: aluminum-alloy blunt-nosed, 50 cal. bullets Simulation of GPHS module collision with shuttle external tank fragments 319 to 555 m/s Clads breached at 415 and 555 m/s Target: Bare iridium clads containing uranium dioxide fuel simulant Projectile: titanium-alloy, blunt-nosed, 30 cal. bullets Simulation of clad collision with spacecraft's titanium fasteners 423 446 and 684 m/s Clads breached Highest velocity breach yielded 13.5% release of fuel simulant Target: Bare iridium clads containing uranium dioxide fuel simulant Projectile: 3.5 mm aluminium flyer plates Simulation of clad collision with aluminum-alloy sections of shuttle 349 624 and 1173 m/s Clads breached. Largest fuel simulant release: 0.05 g Target: Preheated clad containing uranium dioxide fuel simulant Projectile: 38 mm aluminum plate Simulation of clad collision with several aluminum-alloy sections of the shuttle impacting the same point simultaneously 271 m/s Complete release of fuel simulant Target: Iridium clad containing copper fuel simulant Projectile: 3.2 mm-thick, aluminum-alloy plate Simulation of clad collision with aluminum-alloy sections of the shuttle 148 m/s via rocket sled 61% penetration into copper fuel simulant's diameter, but no release
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