Low-Velocity Impacts Into Regolith Under Microgravity Conditions

Abstract

The dusty regolith covering the surfaces of planetary satellites and asteroids is subject to environmental conditions very different from what is found on Earth. The loose, unconsolidated regolith is produced by hypervelocity micrometeoroid impacts on asteroids and planetary satellites, leading to angular particles in a broad size distribution that is generally well-described by a power-law. In contrast, terrestrial soils are formed by erosional processes leading to more rounded particles that are sifted by aeolian and flow processes into narrow size distributions. The response of planetary regolith to low-velocity impacts, such as those that may accompany manned and unmanned exploration activities, may be completely different than what is encountered in terrestrial regolith. Further, the microgravity environment of small asteroids and moons and the absence of gravity can lead to new behaviors. Dust particles from regolith pose a hazard to equipment. The regolith itself is a possible resource for in situ processing of minerals and elements, and equipment may need to be anchored to the loose regolith. Experimental studies of the response of planetary regolith in the relevant environmental conditions are thus necessary to facilitate future exploration activities. We carried out a series of impact experiments into simulated planetary regolith in zero- and reduced-gravity conditions on parabolic airplane flights with the Physics of Regolith Impacts in Microgravity Experiment (PRIME) and measured rebound velocities, coefficients of restitution, ejecta production, and ejecta velocity distributions. Our results extend those of the first PRIME campaign (PRIME-1) reported in Colwell et al. (2008).

Publication Date

1-1-2016

Publication Title

Earth and Space 2016: Engineering for Extreme Environments - Proceedings of the 15th Biennial International Conference on Engineering, Science, Construction, and Operations in Challenging Environments

Number of Pages

82-93

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784479971.010

Socpus ID

85025646344 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85025646344

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