DEVICE FOR CHECKING AIR-TIGHTNESS OF SPACECRAFT STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS Russian patent published in 2013 - IPC G01M3/00 G01T1/00 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: device has an ion collector mounted at a distance from the inspected surface of the spacecraft, a satellite modem, a signal generator, wherein the satellite modem, the signal generator and the ion collector are enclosed in one protective housing; the input of the ion collector is connected to the signal generator, the output of which is connected to the input of the satellite modem, which is connected to an antenna; a focusing grid which is mounted to the protective housing, a device for ionising a stream of gas particles which is mounted to the protective housing on the side of the focusing grid. According to the invention, a photoelectric multiplier is mounted inside the protective housing, and a piezoelectric sensor, which is connected by an amplifier to the signal generator, is mounted on the inspected surface of the spacecraft.

EFFECT: designing a portable device for inspecting spacecraft components exposed to space debris and micrometeoroids, which enables independent transmission of information on damage to spacecraft components to the Earth, and enables to distinguish collision of a hypervelocity particle with the surface of the spacecraft from a discharge on its surface.

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