Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
10694218 | Advances in Space Research | 2015 | 22 Pages |
Abstract
In terms of performance we find the inertia of a landing spacecraft, with a mass of 100Â kg, is adequate to penetrate regoliths expected on the surface of Solar System bodies. Limestone powder, an analogue for a dusty surface, offered very little resistance allowing full penetration of the target container. Both iron powder, representing a stronger coarse grained regolith, and foamglas, representing a consolidated comet crust, could be penetrated to similar depths of around two to three tip diameters. Speed tests suggest a linear dependence of penetration depth on impact speed.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Space and Planetary Science
Authors
M.D. Paton, S.F. Green, A.J. Ball, J.C. Zarnecki, A.-M. Harri,