Target: Iridium clad containing uranium dioxide fuel simulant Projectile: 3.5 mm aluminum plate (edge-on) Simulation of clad collision with edge-on aluminum-alloy sections of the shuttle 142 m/s via rocket sled 7% penetration into uranium dioxide fuel simulant's diameter 24.6% of fuel simulant released Large fragment impacts Gas-gun tests Simulation of RTG collision with large SRB fragments Up to 120 m/s No fuel released Face-on rocket sled test RTG collision with face-on SRB fragment (1.4 m2) 212 m/s No fuel released Edge-on rocket sled test RTG collision with edge-on SRB fragment (1.4 m2) 95 m/s Two clads breached, releasing 49 and 7.5 g of fuel, respectively Module Re-entry impact Steel concrete and granite Simulation of GPHS module Modules ablated and heated Nine of 12 impacts yielded impact tests re-entry and surface impact (re-entry types: prompt and orbital decay) to re-entry temperatures. Impact at 110 to 150% of sea-level terminal velocity fuel releases Largest release from steel impact: 0.2227 g Fire GIS tests Simulation of solid rocket propellant fire at the launch pad 1100°C preheating 10.5 m exposure to solid rocket propellant fire Minimal heat source damage No uranium dioxide fuel simulant released Bare clad impacts Bare clad test Steel, concrete, granite and sand impacts Simulation of explosiongenerated surface impacts 51.8 to 250 m/s Impacts on sand yielded no fuel release Steel inpact velocities of 53 m/s or greater yielded plutonium dioxide fuel releases Concrete impact velocities of 65 m/s or greater yielded plutonium dioxide fuel releases
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