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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

History of on-orbit satellite fragmentations

The causes of on-orbit fragmentations are varied and may be intentional or accidental. The cause of many fragmentations remains unknown. While a few cases are currently under investigation as on-orbit collision candidates, man is directly responsible for the vast majority of artificial debris polluting the near-Earth space environment. It should be emphasized that the number of fragments listed with each event in this document represent only those debris officially cataloged by NORAD. Each known on-orbit satellite fragementation is described within this document in module format. Also listed are pertinent characteristics of each fragmentation event. Comments regarding the nature of the satellite and additional details of the events are given.

Johnson, N. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Fragmental breccias and the collisional evolution of ordinary chondrite parent bodies

The present investigation is concerned with the results of a survey of gas-poor, melt-rock, or exotic clast-bearing fragmental breccias among the ordinary chondrite groups. It is found that such breccias constitute 5 percent, 22 percent, and 23 percent of H, L, LL chondrites respectively. Four melt-rock-clast-bearing fragmental breccias were selected for more detailed study to determine petrologic relationships between blasts and hosts. Attention is given to the abundances of melt-rock or exotic clast-bearing fragmental breccias, the formation of fragmental breccias, and the implications of breccia abundances in different chondrite groups.

Rubin, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Measurements of Fe and Ar fragmentation cross sections

Measurements are reported of the yields of individual isotopes of Cr to Co(Z = 24 to 27) resulting from the fragmentation of Fe-56, and the isotopes of Mg to K(Z = 12 to 19) resulting from the fragmentation of Ar-40. Recent advances in the resolution and collecting power of cosmic ray instrumentation, have led to dramatic improvements in the precision of cosmic ray composition measurements, both elemental and isotopic. The interpretation of these measurements is presently limited by uncertainties in the fragmentation cross-sections needed to correct for nuclear interactions with the interstellar gas. Cosmic ray propagation codes now rely mainly on semi-empirical cross-section formulae developed by Silberberg and Tsao (S&T), which have a typical uncertainty of approximately 25%. Relative isotope yields from the fragmentation of approximately 380 MeV/nucleon Fe-56 e and approximately 210 MeV/nucleon Ar-40 r in CH2 targets, observed during the calibration of two cosmic ray spectrometers at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Bevalac are reported. These are compared with calculated yeilds based on the S&T cross-section formulae.

Lau, K. H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Fragmentation of 710 and 1050 MeV/nuc Fe nuclei in CH2 and C targets - Isotopic cross sections for H targets

Fe nuclei of incident energies of 710 and 1050 MeV/nuc in CH2 and C targets are fragmented in order to measure isotopic cross sections in hydrogen targets. The telescope used to measure the charge and mass of the fragments is a Cerenkov x total energy telescope. The data are reported for z = 20-25 fragments. The number of individual events corresponding to each charged fragment is obtained and analyzed. Ratios of partial cross sections on C and CH2 targets indicate that simple scaling exists for isotope fractions as well as for charge fractions in different targets. The cross sections in hydrogen are obtained directly by a simple subtraction. Excitation functions for Mn and Cr nuclei are presented.

Webber, W. R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Impact and explosion crater ejecta, fragment size, and velocity

The present investigation had the objective to develop models for the distribution of fragments which are ejected at a given velocity for both impact and explosion cratering. It is pointed out that the results have application to the physics of planetary accretion and the origin of meteorites. The impact ejection of fine dust into the earth's atmosphere has been proposed as a mechanism for extinctions which occurred at the end of the Cretaceous. A technique is developed for determining the distribution of fragments which are ejected at a given velocity. The experimental data base for the distribution fragments in the ejecta blankets of impact, explosion, and nuclear craters, are discussed. Attention is also given to impact flow field calculations, fragmentation theory, and the applications of the derived relations.

Okeefe, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Estimation of velocity perturbations in satellite fragmentation events

The magnitude, variance and directionality of the velocity perturbations of the fragments of a satellite can shed valuable information regarding the nature and intensity of the fragmentation. Up until now, the only method used to calculate the three orthogonal components of the velocity change consisted of inverting the process of evaluating the changes in the orbital elements of the fragments due to velocity perturbing forces. But the traditional method failed in five different cases: (1) when the parent satellite's orbit was circular; (2) and (3) when the true anomaly of the parent was either 0 deg or 180 deg; and (4) and (5) when the argument of latitude of the parent was 90 deg or 270 deg. Described here is a new method of calculating the velocity perturbations which is free from the shortcomings of the traditional method and could be used in all occasions, provided the fragmentation data and the orbital elements data are consistent with one another.

Tan, Arjun↗
NASA NTRS1989

Fragmentation of cosmic-string loops

The fragmentation of cosmic string loops is discussed, and the results of a simulation of this process are presented. The simulation can evolve any of a large class of loops essentially exactly, including allowing fragments that collide to join together. Such reconnection enhances the production of small fragments, but not drastically. With or without reconnections, the fragmentation process produces a collection of nonself-intersecting loops whose typical length is on the order of the persistence length of the initial loop.

York, Thomas↗
NASA NTRS1988

On identifying parent plutonic rocks from lunar breccia and soil fragments

Breccia fragments expected from a well-studied boulder of Stillwater anorthosite have been modeled to test the ability to identify parental rock types from examination of breccia and soil fragments. Depending on their size, the boulder fragments give distributions that suggest mixtures of rock types, including monominerallic anorthosite with subordinant amounts of more gabbroic anorthosite, anorthosite, and gabbro for small fragments. The distribution of FeO in samples of lunar ferroan anorthosite (FAN) indicates that FAN has a heterogeneous distribution of mafic minerals like the boulder.

Haskin, Larry A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

A hypervelocity launcher for simulated large fragment space debris impacts at 10 km/s

The background, design, and testing of two explosive launchers for simulating large fragment space debris impacts are presented. The objective was to develop a launcher capable of launching one gram aluminum fragments at velocities of 10 km/s. The two launchers developed are based on modified versions of an explosive shaped charge, common in many military weapons. One launcher design has yielded a stable fragment launch of approximately one gram of aluminum at 8.93 km/s velocity. The other design yielded velocities in excess of 10 km/s, but failed to produce a cohesive fragment launch. This work is ongoing, and future plans are given.

Tullos, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Determination of the area and mass distribution of orbital debris fragments

A technique is described to estimate the area-to-mass ratio of debris fragments using orbital fragments obtained by radar. The area-to-mass ratio of about 2600 fragments arising from the breakup of 24 artificial satellites was determined; an analysis of the data on about 200 objects with known mass, size, and shape has been made, and a calibration of the observed radar cross-section (RCS) to the effective area of these objects has provided a method to estimate the effective area of debris fragments. From the knowledge of the effective area and the estimated area-to-mass ratio, the mass and area distribution of each of the known breakup has been obtained. As a function of time, the orbital elements can be used to invert any propagation algorithm to yield the area-to-mass ratio of an orbiting object.

Badhwar, Gautam D.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Target fragmentation in radiobiology

Nuclear reactions in biological systems produce low-energy fragments of the target nuclei seen as local high events of linear energy transfer (LET). A nuclear-reaction formalism is used to evaluate the nuclear-induced fields within biosystems and their effects within several biological models. On the basis of direct ionization interaction, one anticipates high-energy protons to have a quality factor and relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of unity. Target fragmentation contributions raise the effective quality factor of 10 GeV protons to 3.3 in reasonable agreement with RBE values for induced micronuclei in bean sprouts. Application of the Katz model indicates that the relative increase in RBE with decreasing exposure observed in cell survival experiments with 160 MeV protons is related solely to target fragmentation events. Target fragment contributions to lens opacity given an RBE of 1.4 for 2 GeV protons in agreement with the work of Lett and Cox. Predictions are made for the effective RBE for Harderian gland tumors induced by high-energy protons. An exposure model for lifetime cancer risk is derived from NCRP 98 risk tables, and protraction effects are examined for proton and helium ion exposures. The implications of dose rate enhancement effects on space radiation protection are considered.

Wilson, John W.↗
NASA NTRS1994

The anatomy of a cluster IDP. Part 1: Carbon abundance, bulk chemistry, and mineralogy of fragments from L2008#5

The objective of this study was to determine whether or not cluster particles are sufficiently homogeneous to enable observations from one fragment of the cluster to be extrapolated to the entire cluster. We report on the results of a consortium study of the fragments of a large cluster particle. Multiple fragments from one large cluster were distributed to several research groups and were subjected to a variety of mineralogical and chemical analyses including: SEM, TEM, ion probe, SXRF, noble gas measurements, and microprobe laser mass spectrometry of individual fragments.

Thomas, K. L.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Search for effects of Comet S-L 9 fragment impacts on low radio frequency emission from Jupiter

Decametric radio observations of Jupiter were made before, during, and after the impacts of the fragments of the comet S-L 9 with the planet, from the University of Florida Radio Observatory, the Maipu Radio Astronomy Observatory of the University of Chile, and the Owens Valley Radio Observatory of the California Institute of Technology. The decametric radiation was monitored at frequencies from 16.7 to 32 MHz. The minimum detectable flux densities were on the order of 30 kJy, except for that of the large 26.3 MHz array in Florida, which was about 1 kJy. There was no significant enhancement or suppression of the decametric L-burst or S-burst emission with respect to normal activity patterns that might be attributed to the fragment entries. A burst of left-hand elliptically polarized radiation having a considerably longer duration than an L-burst was observed almost simultaneously with the impact of the large fragment Q2, and another with right-hand elliptical polarization was observed simultaneously with Q1. We consider the possibility that these two bursts were emitted just above the local electron cyclotron frequencies from the southern and northern ends, respectively, of magnetic flux tubes that had been excited in some way by the proximity of fragments Q2 and Q1. A search was conducted for possible comet-enhanced Jovian synchrotron radiation at 45 MHz using a large dipole antenna array at the observatory in Chile.

Carr, T. D.↗
NASA NTRS1995

The behavior of fragments of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 in the atmosphere of Jupiter

Studies of the entry of fragments of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 into the atmosphere of Jupiter give conflicting predictions as to whether or not most of the energy is deposited above the clouds. Using analytical models, we find that for a typical fragment radius of 1.5 km, both deceleration and mass loss (ablation) are negligible above the 1 bar level, so most of the energy will be deposited below the clouds, where radiation is blocked from escaping. The bulk of the energy produced by entering fragments will be observable only if the energy deposited below the clouds is transported above the clouds by means other than radiation. We provide new calculations of the flattening of fragments by ram pressure, of radiation-driven evaporative ablation and of ablation of droplets formed by Kelvin-Helmholtz instability.

Field, G. B.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Large ejecta fragments from asteroids

The asteroid 4 Vesta, with its unique basaltic crust, remains a key mystery of planetary evolution. A localized olivine feature suggests excavation of subcrustal material in a crater or impact basin comparable in size to the planetary radius (R(sub vesta) is approximately = 280 km). Furthermore, a 'clan' of small asteroids associated with Vesta (by spectral and orbital similarities) may be ejecta from this impact 151 and direct parents of the basaltic achondrites. To escape, these smaller (about 4-7 km) asteroids had to be ejected at speeds greater than the escape velocity, v(sub esc) is approximately = 350 m/s. This evidence that large fragments were ejected at high speed from Vesta has not been reconciled with the present understanding of impact physics. Analytical spallation models predict that an impactor capable of ejecting these 'chips off Vesta' would be almost the size of Vesta! Such an impact would lead to the catastrophic disruption of both bodies. A simpler analysis is outlined, based on comparison with cratering on Mars, and it is shown that Vesta could survive an impact capable of ejecting kilometer-scale fragments at sufficient speed. To what extent does Vesta survive the formation of such a large crater? This is best addressed using a hydrocode such as SALE 2D with centroidal gravity to predict velocities subsequent to impact. The fragmentation outcome and velocity subsequent to the impact described to demonstrate that Vesta survives without large-scale disassembly or overturning of the crust. Vesta and its clan represent a valuable dataset for testing fragmentation hydrocodes such as SALE 2D and SPH 3D at planetary scales. Resolution required to directly model spallation 'chips' on a body 100 times as large is now marginally possible on modern workstations. These boundaries are important in near-surface ejection processes and in large-scale disruption leading to asteroid families and stripped cores.

Asphaug, E.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Cogenetic Rock Fragments from a Lunar Soil: Evidence of a Ferroan Noritic-Anorthosite Pluton on the Moon

The impact that produced North Ray Crater, Apollo 16 landing site, exhumed rocks that include relatively mafic members of the lunar ferroan anorthositic suite. Bulk and mineral compositions indicate that a majority of 2-4 mm lithic fragments from sample 67513, including impact breccias and monomict igneous rocks, are related to a common noritic-anorthosite precursor. Compositions and geochemical trends of these lithic fragments and of related samples collected along the rim of North Ray Crater suggest that these rocks derived from a single igneous body. This body developed as an orthocumulate from a mixture of cumulus plagioclase and mafic intercumulus melt, after the plagioclase had separated from any cogenetic mafic minerals and had become concentrated into a crystal mush (approximately 70 wt% plagioclase, 30 wt% intercumulus melt). We present a model for the crystallization of the igneous system wherein "system" is defined as cumulus plagioclase and intercumulus melt. The initial accumulation of plagioclase is analogous to the formation of thick anorthosites of the terrestrial Stillwater Complex; however, a second stage of formation is indicated, involving migration of the cumulus-plagioclase-intercumulus-melt system to a higher crustal level, analogous to the emplacement of terrestrial massif anorthosites. Compositional variations of the lithic fragments from sample 67513 are consistent with dominantly equilibrium crystallization of intercumulus melt. The highly calcic nature of orthocumulus pyroxene and plagioclase suggests some reaction between the intercumulus melt and cumulus plagioclase, perhaps facilitated by some recrystallization of cumulus plagioclase. Bulk compositions and mineral assemblages of individual rock fragments also require that most of the mafic minerals fortned in close contact with cumulus plagioclase, not as separate layers. The distribution of compositions (and by inference, modes) has a narrow peak at anorthosite and a broader, larger peak at noritic anoilhosite. Characteristics of the samples and their geochemical trends imply an origin in a system that was large relative to the (unknown) size of the impact that produced the breccias of ferroan noritic-anorthosite composition that were excavated later by the formation of North Ray Crater, and they appear to be consistent with an origin of the suite within a perched plagioclase cumulate. If the Moon's crust formed by accumulation of plagioclase in a magma ocean, ferroan noritic anothosite, formed as an orthocumulate, is an alternative to extensive adcumulus formation of ferroan anorthosite (greater than 90 vol% plagiclase). This provides a relatively mafic ferroan anorthositic component (approximately 15 vol% mafics), which is required by mass-balance models of compositions of polymict lunar-crustal materials. The inferred bulk composition of the system of cumulus plagioclase and intercumulus melt is similar to that of ferroan regolith breccia MacAlpine Hills 88104/5, a lunar-highland meteorite, and may represent a common and widespread component of the Moon's early highland crust.

Jolliff, B. L.↗
NASA NTRS1996

On the Relationship between the Apollo 16 Ancient Regolith Breccias and Feldspathic Fragmental Breccias, and the Composition of the Prebasin Crust in the Central Highlands of the Moon

Two types of texturally and compositionally similar breccias that consist largely of fragmental debris from meteorite impacts occur at the Apollo 16 lunar site: Feldspathic fragmental breccias (FFBS) and ancient regolith breccias (ARBs). Both types of breccia are composed of a suite of mostly feldspathic components derived from the early crust of the Moon and mafic impact-melt breccias produced during the time of basin formation. The ARBs also contain components, such as agglutinates and glass spherules, indicating that the material of which they are composed occurred at the surface of the Moon as fine-grained regolith prior to lithification of the breccias. These components are absent from the FFBS, suggesting that the FFBs might be the protolith of the ARBS. However, several compositional differences exist between the two types of breccia, making any simple genetic relationship implausible. First, clasts of mafic impact-melt breccia occurring in the FFBs are of a different composition than those in the ARBS. Also the feldspathic "prebasin" components of the FFBs have a lower average Mg/Fe ratio than the corresponding components of the ARBS; the average composition of the plagiociase in the FFBs is more sodic than that of the ARBS; and there are differences in relative abundances of rare earth elements. The two breccia types also have different provenances: the FFBs occur primarily in ejecta from North Ray crater and presumably derive from the Descartes Formation, while the ARBs are restricted to the Cayley plains. Together these observations suggest that although some type of fragmental breccia may have been a precursor to the ARBS, the FFBs of North Ray crater are not a significant component of the ARBs and, by inference, the Cayley plains. The average compositions of the prebasin components of the two types of fragmental breccia are generally similar to the composition of the feldspathic lunar meteorites. With 30-31% Al203, however, they are slightly richer in plagiociase than the most feldspathic lunar meteorites (approximately 29% Al203), implying that the crust of the early central nearside of the Moon contained a higher abundance of highly feldspathic anorthosite than typical lunar highlands, as inferred from the lunar meteorites. The ancient regolith breccias, as well as the current surface regolith ofthe Cayley plains, are more mafic than (1) prebasin regoliths in the Central Highlands and (2) regions of highlands presently distant from nearside basins because they contain a high abundance (approximately 30%) of mafic impact-melt breccias produced during the time of basin formation that is absent from other regoliths.

Korotev, Randy L.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Fragmentation of 200 and 244 MEV/u Carbon Beams in Thick Tissue-Like Absorbers

Stacks consisting of thin CR-39 sheets sandwiched between thick lucite and water absorbers were perpendicularly bombarded by C-12 ions at 200 and 244 MeV/u. Track radius distributions representing the charge composition of the fragmented beams were automatically measured by a particle track analysis system. After analysis of the nuclear charge distributions, the total charge removal cross-sections and elemental production cross-sections of fragments with atomic numbers from 5 to 3, were obtained down to the lower energies (approx. 50 and 100 MeV/u, respectively). It has been found that the measured total charge removal cross-section agrees with theoretical predictions within approx. 10% and very well with previous experiments in corresponding energy regions. Two model calculations for production of B fragment are in good agreement with our measured data while a third model overestimates it by approx. 12%. Theoretical cross-sections for Be and Li fragments differ strongly among the different models and from measured values.

Golovchenko, A. N.↗