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Image and compositional characteristics of the LDEF Big Guy impact crater

Conference ·
OSTI ID:42760
; ;  [1]
  1. Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Inst., Mountain View, CA (United States)

A 5.2 mm crater in Al-metal represents the largest found on LDEF. The authors have examined this crater by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and time-of-flight/secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS) in order to determine if there is any evidence of impactor residue. Droplet and dome-shaped columns, along with flow features, are evidence of melting. EDS from the crater cavity and rim show Mg, C, O and variable amounts of Si, in addition to Al. No evidence for a chondritic impactor was found, and it is hypothesized that the crater may be the result of impact with space debris.

Research Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Hampton, VA (United States). Langley Research Center
OSTI ID:
42760
Report Number(s):
N--95-23796; NASA-CP--3275-PT-1; L--17430A-PT-1; NAS--1.55:3275-PT-1; CONF-9311137--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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