Fragment creation via low-velocity impact possible in space

Authors have conducted laboratory impact experiments to understand dispersion properties of newly created fragments to be used in the eventual orbital dispersion and debris population models. Since there are no information concerned with low-velocity impact possible in space, especially in GEO, as far as author; know, these impact experiments have been conducted in the velocity range of 100-300 m/s with about 1 cm stainless steel or aluminum spheres and aluminum honeycomb sandwich panels with CFRP or aluminum face sheets. The visualization technique adopted herein is simply photographing fragment creation process from two directions, horizontally and vertically, with double flashing visible lights with time delays after the impact. By analyzing the images and the collected fragments, authors arc investigating the three-dimensional dispersion properties of fragments. Authors will present some pictures and analyzed data to demonstrate dispersion properties of fragments created by low-velocity impact.