Characterization of light flash signatures created by hypervelocity impact LY12 aluminum spacecraft shield material

Abstract

Space debris is considered as a serious threat to man's utilization and exploration of space. While some information is available on the material composition of orbital debris, most measurements of projectile size and velocity distributions can not distinguish material compositions and type. The analysis and understanding of impact flash signatures can determine projectile's size and impact velocity distributions for projectile segregated by material composition and type. This paper based on the derivation of the shock jet initiated model for light flash and an understanding of how material shock properties govern the flash signature arising from the impact of a spherical projectile against a target. Analytical results are presented that identify the most promising target materials with respect to producing impact flash signatures that can characterize size effect of spherical projectile, impact angle and impact velocity effects during LY12 aluminum projectile hypervelocity impact LY12 aluminum spacecraft shield material.