Experiments conducted to develop targets capturing micrometerorites, dust, and other small particles in outer space traveling at speed of several kilometers per second. Principal criterion for such target; must stop particles while preserving mineralogical properties for subsequent analysis. Collection concept simple: foam or other underdense medium used to remove kinetic energy gently from impinging particle. Well-designed collector decelerates and stops particle without imposing stresses beyond critical stresses that damage particle thermally or mechanically. Target technology also useful in terrestrial studies of debris for explosions.
Collecting Hypervelocity Particles Intact
NASA Tech Briefs ; 12 , 11
1988-12-01
Miscellaneous
No indication
English
Intact capture of hypervelocity particles
NTRS | 1986
|Intact Capture of Hypervelocity Particles on Shuttle
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1993
|Engineering Index Backfile | 1951
|Online Contents | 1994
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