Acoustic Impact Detector
Piezoelectric Acoustic Emission Sensor Network
The acoustic impact detector is a network of thirty piezoelectric sensors distributed across habitat bulk walls and Whipple panels to detect hypervelocity impacts in real time. By measuring high-frequency structural acoustic waves, the system uses time-difference-of-arrival calculations to pinpoint impact locations within 0.5 meters and estimates event severity via spectral analysis. Operating without atmospheric shielding against meteoroids requires radiation-tolerant sensor electronics, though low lunar seismic background noise aids detection sensitivity. Consuming 5 watts with a total mass of 3 kilograms, the network transmits telemetry to trigger structural inspections across a 25-year design lifetime.
Piezoelectric acoustic emission sensors distributed across the bulk wall and Whipple panels detecting hypervelocity impact events in real time.
Purpose
Piezoelectric acoustic emission sensors distributed across the bulk wall and Whipple panels detecting hypervelocity impact events in real time.
Context
Child of L2-MMD-DET within the Lunar Ark system
Principles
- ▸Piezoelectric sensors detect high-frequency acoustic waves from impact
- ▸Multi-sensor TDOA localisation pinpoints impact location
- ▸Spectral analysis estimates impact severity
- ▸Real-time telemetry to L3-MMD-DET-PROC
- ▸Long-life solid-state sensors
Typical implementations
- ▸NASA Acoustic Emission MMOD detection R&D
- ▸ISS DEBIE micrometeoroid detector
- ▸Aerospace SHM acoustic sensors
Lunar considerations
- ▸Lunar surface seismic noise relatively low (sensitivity advantage)
- ▸Rad-tolerant sensor electronics
- ▸Inspection trigger after detection
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Piezoelectric acoustic emission sensors distributed across the bulk wall and Whipple panels detecting hypervelocity impact events in real time. |
| sensor count | 30 |
| localisation accuracy m | 0.5 |
Physical
| mass kg | 3 |
| materials | PZT piezoelectric sensors, Rad-tolerant ADC, Spectrum analyzer |
| vacuum compatibility | True |
Operational
| power consumption w | 5 |
| thermal range c | -40, 70 |
| lifetime years | 25 |
| mtbf hours | 200000 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Impact event telemetry
- Impact localization for repair
Requires
- Sensor electronics (~5 W)
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Acoustic Impact Detector" (L3-MMD-DET-ACOUS). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-MMD-DET-ACOUS
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.