The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
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Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
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This image shows the results of a lab test impact between a small sphere of aluminium travelling at approximately 6.8 kilometres per second and a block of aluminium 8 centimetres thick. This test simulates what can happen when a small space debris object hits a spacecraft.
Al sphere diameter: 1.2 cm
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 6,000 K.