Analogies and differences between quasi-static indentation and hypervelocity impact morphologies on thin solar cells

Morphologies produced by quasi-static indentation on thin Hubble Space Telescope (HST) solar cells show remarkable similarities to much of the hypervelocity damage sustained by the HST solar array whilst in orbit. Quasi-static indentation tests carried out with blunt and sharp indentors reveal analogies between static and dynamic (hypervelocity) indentation indicating similar fracture mechanics processes over the energy range evaluated. Understanding the static case assists to characterise better the dynamic process and bridge the intervening gap.