Explorer satellite measurements of meteoroid penetration rates in structural materials
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Oneal, R. L.↗
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Evidence from Stream Meteoroids
The physical behavior and composition of shower meteors were examined in an effort to establish the structure of its parent comet. Properties considered include degree of fragmentation and density.
Mccrosky, R. E.↗
Development of explosively driven launcher for meteoroid studies
The results of a continuing program to develop an explosively driven 2-stage hypervelocity launcher capable of achieving velocities between 15 and 20 km/sec are described. Previous efforts had identified incomplete barrel collapse as a limiting factor in launcher performance. Correlation of experimental and computational results obtained in the present study indicate that boundary-layer gases within the barrel act to prevent complete closure. Simplified calculations suggest that in-contact explosives may have insufficient energy densities to collapse the barrel against a developed boundary layer. Higher energy densities, sufficient to produce complete closure, were obtained with the use of steel flyer plates accelerated by a phased explosive lens. However, when flat flyer plates were impacted on the barrel, the sides of the barrel were observed to rupture and leak gas prior to barrel closure. A promising solution to this problem (untested) is to produce a symmetrical collapse with a cylindrical tube around the barrel.
Baum, D. W.↗
Phenomena after meteoroid penetration of a bumper plate
The results are presented of a study to obtain a computer program for the penetration of a thin plate of aluminum by a sphere of rock. The study was divided into two projects. One project covers the initial impact, the crushing of the sphere of rock, the break up of the aluminum sheet, and the conversion of the sufficiently shock-compressed regions of rock and aluminum into a plasma. The other project considers the ejection of a cone of plasma with entrained particles from the impact zone, its expansion as it traverses a region of free space, and its impact on a stack of paper sheets. The ablation of fragments in penetrating the stack of paper sheets is also considered.
Todd, F. C.↗
Study of hypervelocity meteoroid impact on orbital space stations
Structural damage resulting in hypervelocity impact of a meteorite on a spacecraft is discussed. Of particular interest is the backside spallation caused by such a collision. To treat this phenomenon two numerical schemes were developed in the course of this study to compute the elastic-plastic flow fracture of a solid. The numerical schemes are a five-point finite difference scheme and a four-node finite element scheme. The four-node finite element scheme proved to be less sensitive to the type of boundary conditions and loadings. Although further development work is needed to improve the program versatility (generalization of the network topology, secondary storage for large systems, improving of the coding to reduce the run time, etc.), the basic framework is provided for a utilitarian computer program which may be used in a wide variety of situations. Analytic results showing the program output are given for several test cases.
Leimbach, K. R.↗
Impact gages for detecting meteoroid and other orbital debris impacts on space vehicles.
Impacts on space vehicles have been simulated using the McDonnell Douglas Aerophysics Laboratory (MDAL) Light-Gas Guns to launch particles at hypervelocity speeds into scaled space structures. Using impact gages and a triangulation technique, these impacts have been detected and accurately located. This paper describes in detail the various types of impact gages (piezoelectric PZT-5A, quartz, electret, and off-the-shelf plastics) used. This description includes gage design and experimental results for gages installed on single-walled scaled payload carriers, multiple-walled satellites and space stations, and single-walled full-scale Delta tank structures. A brief description of the triangulation technique, the impact simulation, and the data acquisition system are also included.
Mastandrea, J. R.↗
Lunar rocks as meteoroid detectors
About 5000 microcraters on seven lunar rocks recovered during the Apollo 12 mission have been systematically studied using a stereomicroscope. Based on comparisons with laboratory cratering experiments, at least 95 percent of all millimeter sized craters observed were formed by impacts in which the impact velocity exceeded 10 km/s. The dynamics of particle motion near the moon and the distribution of microcraters on the rocks require an extralunar origin for these impacting particles. The microcrater population on at least one side of all rocks studied was in equilibrium for millimeter sized craters; i.e., statistically, craters a few millimeters in diameter and smaller were being removed by the superposition of new craters at the same rate new craters were being formed. The population of craters on such a surface is directly related to the total population of particles impacting that surface. Crater size distribution data together with an experimentally determined relationship between the crater size and the physical parameters of the impacting particle, yield the mass distribution of interplanetary dust at 1 AU.
Hartung, J. B.↗
Moonquakes, meteoroids, and the state of the lunar interior
Analysis of data returned from the four stations of the Apollo Seismic Network has revealed that the lunar interior can be divided into two major zones: a rigid, dynamically inactive outer shell, about 1000 km thick (the lunar lithosphere); and a relatively weak central zone (the lunar asthenosphere) in which partial melting is probable. The transition between these two zones is gradual. Seismic activity within the moon is far below that of the earth. The small moonquakes that do occur originate near the base of the lithosphere, and appear to fall within two major belts. Tidal energy appears to be an important, if not the dominant, source of energy released as moonquakes. A secular component of moonquake energy release may result from slight thermal expansion or contraction of the moon, weak convection in the asthenosphere, or secular recession of the moon from the earth. Lack of shallow moonquake activity implies that the moon is neither expanding nor contracting at an appreciable rate at present.
Latham, G.↗
Meteoroid impacts recorded by the short-period component of Apollo 14 lunar passive seismic station
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Duennebier, F.↗
Simulated meteoroid impact tests test report
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Kucera, J. J.↗
Size distribution of fragment debris produced by simulated meteoroid impact of spacecraft wall
A laboratory experimental program was conducted to determine the amount of fragment debris produced and its size distribution when simulated spacecraft walls are penetrated by hypervelocity projectiles. Two tests were made in which a spacecraft wall was struck with a small steel and an aluminum projectile, respectively. Results show that most of the fragment debris were irregularly shaped flat plates. The fragment data follow a cumulative number distribution law of the form N = am(exp b) where m is fragment mass and a and b are constants. Orbital lifetimes of most of the fragments were very short, being on the order of a few days.
T Dale Bess↗
Radial distribution of Beta meteoroids from the Pioneers 8 and 9 cosmic dust experiments
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Rhee, J. W.↗
On the time-varying properties of the lunar seismic meteoroid population
Strong short-term fluctuations of meteroid impact rates are evident in a list of 1557 events derived from Apollo lunar seismic data. Times of fall and seismic signal amplitudes are considered in relation to the possible orbits and identification of the impacting objects. The entire lunar surface is the effective collector and the Apollo network data, gathered between 1970 and 1977, reflect the recognized abundance of large meteorite falls from early April through July. There is also some indication that briefly increased counts represent fragments of about 100 g or greater belonging to several meteor streams: Quadrantids, Aquarids, Perseids, Orionids, Leonids, Geminids, and possibly others as well.
Dorman, J.↗
Ground radar detection of meteoroids in space
A special test to lower the detection threshold for satellite fragments potentially dangerous to spacecraft was carried out by NORAD for NASA, using modified radar software. The Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System, a large, planar face, phased radar, operates at a nominal 430 MHz and produces 120 pulses per second, 45 of which were dedicated to search. In a time period of 8.4 hours of observations over three days, over 6000 objects were detected and tracked of which 37 were determined to have velocities greater than escape velocity. Six of these were larger objects with radar cross sections greater than 0.1 sq m and were probably orbiting satellites. A table gives the flux of both observed groups.
Kessler, D. J.↗
Study of meteoroid impact craters on various materials (A0138-1)
Interplanetary dust particles (micrometeoroids) are expected to form well-defined craters upon impacting exposed material in space. Studying the frequency and features of these craters will provide data on the mass-flux distribution of micrometeoroids and, to a lesser extent, on the velocity magnitude and direction. This experiment will study impact craters produced by micrometeoroids on selected materials (metals and glasses in the form of thick targets) to obtain valuable technological and scientific data. Specifically, the studies will focus on determining micrometeoroid composition and mass-flux distribution. Analyses will also be made on the distribution of impact velocity vectors.
Mandeville, J. C.↗
Interaction of large meteoroids with the atmosphere
Disturbances of the atmosphere at heights of 120 to 40 km by penetration of meteroids of meter and decameter dimensions were examined. Unbiased data on atmospheric penetration of large meteroids was acquired, and their supply of gas and dust components to the middle atmosphere and their connection with the noctilucent clouds were determined.
Ceplecha, Z.↗
Plasma Production by Meteoroid Impact
Material ejected from the surfaces of satellites in the outer solar system plays an important role in the magnetospheres of the outer planets, and may dominate the mass loading, as in the vicinity of the Jovian satellite Io. At least four potential ejection mechanisms can be identified - intrinsic geologic activity, thermal sublimation, sputtering, and micrometeoroid impact vaporization. On all the icy satellites, except possibly Enceladus, sputtering and impact vaporization are the only two potentially important sources of magnetospheric plasma. Sputtering was shown to be an important mass source at both Jupiter and Saturn. The impact mechanism as a plasma source is assessed.
Haff, P. K.↗
Magnetic field amplification and generation in hypervelocity meteoroid impacts with application to lunar paleomagnetism
A one-dimensional numerical model for the expansion of impact-produced vapor clouds is used to investigate magnetic field generation mechanisms in events such as meteor collisions with the moon. The resulting cloud properties, such as ionization fraction, electrical conductivity, radial expansion velocity, mass density, and energy density are estimated. The model is initiated with the peak shock states and pressure thresholds for incipient and complete vaporization of anorthosite lunar surface materials by iron and GA composition meteorites. The expansion of the spherical gas cloud into a vacuum was traced with a one-dimensional explicit lagrangian hydrodynamic code. The hypervelocity impact plasmas produced are found to be significant in the amplitudes and orientations of the magnetic fields generated. An ambient magnetic field could have been provided by the core dynamo, which would have interacted with the expanding plasmas and formed induced paleomagnetic fields. Several other field-contribution mechanisms are discussed and discarded as potential remanent magnetism contributors.
Hood, L. L.↗