High-velocity impact sample

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.