What Happens Upon Impact?

• Spacecraft Mass: 160 kg

• Spacecraft Velocity: 1688 m/s

• Impact Energy: 1/2 MV2 = 2.3 x 108 Joules (or a 4000 lb car crash at 1121 mph)

• Impact Angle: 6-7ƒ above horizontal

• Result: Gross deformation and disintegration, possible ricochet

• If all enery heats soil inside small crater:

  • Volume ~ 0.5 m3, ice is 2% soil mass
  • ~ 18 kg water vapor (4.8 liquid gallons) at ~ 127ƒC

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