Hypervelocity impact sample

This image shows the results of a lab test impact between a small sphere of aluminum travelling at approximately 6.8 km/second and a block of aluminum 18 cm thick. This test simulates what can happen when a small space debris object hits a spacecraft.

Al sphere diameter: 1.2cm
Al sphere mass: about 1.7 g
Impact crater diameter: 9.0 cm
Impact crater depth: 5.3 cm

In such an impact, the pressure and temperature can exceed those found at the centre of the Earth, e.g. greater than 365 GPa and more than 6000 K.