Numerical simulation of the interaction of dust particles of a comet with a spacecraft

The paper deals with the physical and mathematical statement of problems that arise in estimating the safety of the shield design of the Vega spacecraft, which was chosen preliminarily under the guidance of R. Z. Sagdeev. Numerical results for failure of shields impacted by particles of the dusty atmosphere of Halley's comet are presented. The size of the failure zones in the shields are determined as a function of the particle size and density. The probability of an impact on the second shield of the particles penetrating the shield or resulting in spalling of solid fragments is estimated. The momentum transmitted by the particle flux to the solar batteries of the spacecraft is determined.Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 117–123, March–April, 1996.