Observations of impacted, frozen Lunar and Martian regolith simulants
Abstract
The abstract details an examination of impact flashes from frozen Lunar and Martian regolith simulant to better understand the physical and chemical behaviour of the highly energetic, short-lived, ejecta cloud. A significant difference was detected both in the overall intensity of the emission and the relative temporal behaviour of the emitting species within the impact plume for each frozen target. The temporal variation in emission intensity was observed to behave differently across the various spectral bands, implying a wavelength dependence of the impact flash dynamics. Emission spectra of ejecta flash during the first 15 microseconds after impact show bands across the full spectral range observed (470 nm to 640 nm). Consistent bands were observed in each spectrum originating from a few small molecules indicating significant chemical fragmentation of the projectile and target materials.
- Publication:
-
EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019
- Pub Date:
- September 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019EPSC...13.1897T