Discovery of Non-random Spatial Distribution of Impacts in the Stardust Cometary Collector
Journal Article
·
· Meteoritics & Planetary Science, vol. 43, no. 1-2, February 1, 2008, pp. 415-429
OSTI ID:940901
We report the discovery that impacts in the Stardust cometary collector are not distributed randomly in the collecting media, but appear to be clustered on scales smaller than {approx} 10 cm. We also report the discovery of at least two populations of oblique tracks. We evaluated several hypotheses that could explain the observations. No hypothesis was consistent with all the observations, but the preponderance of evidence points toward at least one impact on the central Whipple shield of the spacecraft as the origin of both clustering and low-angle oblique tracks. High-angle oblique tracks unambiguously originate from a non-cometary impact on the spacecraft bus just forward of the collector.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 940901
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-JRNL-229863
- Journal Information:
- Meteoritics & Planetary Science, vol. 43, no. 1-2, February 1, 2008, pp. 415-429, Journal Name: Meteoritics & Planetary Science, vol. 43, no. 1-2, February 1, 2008, pp. 415-429 Journal Issue: 1-2 Vol. 43
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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