Solid Aluminium Hypervelocity Impact Target
Solid Aluminium Hypervelocity Impact Target
Circular aluminium target showing an impact crater from a projectile fired by a hypervelocity gun. Shows how even small specks can cause a lot of damage when they impact with something at high speed. The impact crater is just off-centre and was made by a projectile travelling at 5.5 kilometres a second.In space even small specks of material can cause major damage when travelling at high speed. Micrometeoroids - small pieces of rock or metal, travelling incredibly fast - are common in space. They pose a great risk to spacecraft and satellites, especially those that are designed to operate in space for many years. Bigger pieces of space debris can have catastrophic consequences for astronauts, spacecraft or satellites, as, at such speeds they could puncture materials creating holes.
Scientists study terminal ballistics to experiment with extremely high-speed impacts. Doing this helps to see how different materials and structures cope with being struck by objects at speeds like those that could be experienced in space. This piece of solid aluminium is an example of this scientific study.
More information
Object number
2001-66
Location
Into Space Gallery
Has this object been into space?
No
Dimension - Dimension, Value, Measurement unit
Depth: 7cm
Height: 10cm
Width: 10cm
Material
Aluminium
Associated Organisation
University of Kent
Object Production Date
1990s
Object Production Organisation
The Open University School of Physical Sciences
Object Production Place
Kent
United Kingdom
Credit Line
On display with the kind permission of the Open University Department of Physical Sciences
On Display Status
On display
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