This paper introduces the concept of an aerospace-grade electronic textile and summarizes design studies and early prototype development for on-fabric hypervelocity impact characterization. Whereas most damage detection technologies for aerospace systems rely on enhancements to the structure's inner shell, the outermost protective skin of a space habitat or a spacesuit -traditionally a woven fabric -is directly exposed to the relevant environment. Therefore, we propose weaving sensory fibers into traditional fibrous aerospace skins for direct measurement of local conditions, yielding a material that can simultaneously sense and protect. Specifically, this paper documents design considerations for multifunctional Beta cloth, in which piezoelectric yarn is directly woven into Teflon-coated fiberglass, the material used as the outermost skin of the International Space Station. A review of hypervelocity plasma generation then motivates a strawman design for on-textile plasma charge and RF emission sensing, which may be useful for further characterization of hypervelocity impactors. An aerospacegrade electronic textile is distinct from a traditional e-textile in that it must be validated not only for its sensing capabilities but also for its robustness to hazards presented in a space environment.
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