Hypervelocity Impact Simulation Experiments on LDEF-Foils

A variety of space environmental effects can be studied on many experiments having been exposed on the LDEF-satellite. Among others the thermal blankets of the Ultra-Heavy Cosmic Ray Nuclei Experiment ("UHCRE", Exp. A0178) displayed many micrometeoroid/space debris impact features. In an effort to understand their nature and characteristics, an experimental impact simulation program has been carried out. UHCRE-spare foils have been impacted by glass, aluminum, and iron projectiles with masses ranging from about 30 nanograms up to several milligrams. Impact velocities range between about 3 km/s and 13 km/s. Characteristic impact craters and perforation holes have been produced. Their sizes and morphologies have been related with respective projectile impact parameters. "Halo zones" around perforation holes, as they had been observed in the exposed LDEF-foils, have also been obtained experimentally. They were found to be delamination effects within the foil layers caused by the propagat ion of impact shock waves. - LDEF