Micro-Particle Debris Characterization from Hyper-Velocity Impacts

The Torch Team is proposing to design and conduct laboratory-based experiments to elucidate the fundamental micro-debris formation mechanisms to improve intercept optical models. Ballistic missile intercept optical signatures collected over the last decade have identified definitive micro-debris parameter trends. These measurements place bounds on the debris temperature, number of particles, and particle size and velocity distributions. Analysis of multi-wavelength intercept signatures shows evidence for particle distributions of both low (e.g., metals) and high (e.g., carbon-based) emissivity. These experiments will provide data needed to improve hypervelocity impact micro-debris models. Moreover, a novel experiment is presented to validate radiometric inversion methodologies for determining micro-debris properties in ground and flight tests. Approved for Public Release 14-MDA-7663 (8 January 14)