Statistical Significance of Mission Parameters on the Deflection Efficiency of Kinetic Impacts: Applications for the Next-generation Kinetic Impactor

DeCoster, Mallory E.; Rainey, E. S. G.; Rosch, Thomas W.; Stickle, A. M.

doi:10.3847/psj/ac7b2a

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…These impactor models demonstrated some shielding/capture of the ejecta in the crater volume from interactions with the narrower crater walls, which inhibited the production of ejecta. In agreement with previous studies (Raducan et al 2019;Stickle et al 2020;DeCoster et al 2022), Owen et al showed that β, ejecta distribution, and the crater morphology were more sensitive to target material strength than projectile geometry. They reported variations in ejecta mass ranging from ∼10× the mass of DART to ∼1000× the mass of DART for strong to weak targets, respectively.…”

Section: Effects Of Projectile Mass and Shape On Deflection Parameterssupporting

confidence: 90%

Effects of Impact and Target Parameters on the Results of a Kinetic Impactor: Predictions for the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Mission

Stickle¹,

DeCoster²,

Burger³

et al. 2022

Planet. Sci. J.

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The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft will impact into the asteroid Dimorphos on 2022 September 26 as a test of the kinetic impactor technique for planetary defense. The efficiency of the deflection following a kinetic impactor can be represented using the momentum enhancement factor, β, which is dependent on factors such as impact geometry and the specific target material properties. Currently, very little is known about Dimorphos and its material properties, which introduces uncertainty in the results of the deflection efficiency observables, including crater formation, ejecta distribution, and β. The DART Impact Modeling Working Group (IWG) is responsible for using impact simulations to better understand the results of the DART impact. Pre-impact simulation studies also provide considerable insight into how different properties and impact scenarios affect momentum enhancement following a kinetic impact. This insight provides a basis for predicting the effects of the DART impact and the first understanding of how to interpret results following the encounter. Following the DART impact, the knowledge gained from these studies will inform the initial simulations that will recreate the impact conditions, including providing estimates for potential material properties of Dimorphos and β resulting from DART’s impact. This paper summarizes, at a high level, what has been learned from the IWG simulations and experiments in preparation for the DART impact. While unknown, estimates for reasonable potential material properties of Dimorphos provide predictions for β of 1–5, depending on end-member cases in the strength regime.

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Section: Effects Of Projectile Mass and Shape On Deflection Parameterssupporting

confidence: 90%

Effects of Impact and Target Parameters on the Results of a Kinetic Impactor: Predictions for the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Mission

Stickle¹,

DeCoster²,

Burger³

et al. 2022

Planet. Sci. J.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Our result for β is consistent with numerical simulations 13 – 23 and laboratory experiments 24 – 29 of kinetic impacts, which have consistently indicated that β is expected to fall between about 1 and 6. However, non-unique combinations of asteroid mechanical properties (for example, cohesive strength, porosity and friction angle) can produce similar values of β in impact simulations 20 .…”

Section: Mainsupporting

confidence: 90%

Momentum transfer from the DART mission kinetic impact on asteroid Dimorphos

Cheng

Agrusa

Barbee

et al. 2023

Nature

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105

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The NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission performed a kinetic impact on asteroid Dimorphos, the satellite of the binary asteroid (65803) Didymos, at 23:14 UTC on 26 September 2022 as a planetary defence test1. DART was the first hypervelocity impact experiment on an asteroid at size and velocity scales relevant to planetary defence, intended to validate kinetic impact as a means of asteroid deflection. Here we report a determination of the momentum transferred to an asteroid by kinetic impact. On the basis of the change in the binary orbit period2, we find an instantaneous reduction in Dimorphos’s along-track orbital velocity component of 2.70 ± 0.10 mm s−1, indicating enhanced momentum transfer due to recoil from ejecta streams produced by the impact3,4. For a Dimorphos bulk density range of 1,500 to 3,300 kg m−3, we find that the expected value of the momentum enhancement factor, β, ranges between 2.2 and 4.9, depending on the mass of Dimorphos. If Dimorphos and Didymos are assumed to have equal densities of 2,400 kg m−3, $${\beta =3.61}_{-0.25}^{+0.19}(1\sigma )$$ β = 3.61 − 0.25 + 0.19 ( 1 σ ) . These β values indicate that substantially more momentum was transferred to Dimorphos from the escaping impact ejecta than was incident with DART. Therefore, the DART kinetic impact was highly effective in deflecting the asteroid Dimorphos.

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“…Our result for 𝛽 is consistent with numerical simulations [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] and laboratory experiments [22][23][24][25][26][27][28] of kinetic impacts, which have consistently indicated that 𝛽 is expected to fall between about 1 and 6. However, non-unique combinations of asteroid mechanical properties (e.g., cohesive 5 strength, porosity, and friction angle) can produce similar values of 𝛽 in impact simulations 18 .…”

supporting

confidence: 89%

Momentum Transfer from the DART Mission Kinetic Impact on Asteroid Dimorphos

Cheng

Agrusa

Barbee³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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The NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission performed a kinetic impact on asteroid Dimorphos, the satellite of the binary asteroid (65803) Didymos, at 23:14 UTC on September 26, 2022 as a planetary defense test1. DART was the first hypervelocity impact experiment on an asteroid at size and velocity scales relevant to planetary defense, intended to validate kinetic impact as a means of asteroid deflection. Here we report the first determination of the momentum transferred to an asteroid by kinetic impact. Based on the change in the binary orbit period2, we find an instantaneous reduction in Dimorphos’s along-track orbital velocity component of 2.70 ± 0.10 mm s–1, indicating enhanced momentum transfer due to recoil from ejecta streams produced by the impact3,4. For a Dimorphos bulk density range of 1,500 to 3,300 kg m–3, we find that the expected value of the momentum enhancement factor, β, ranges between 2.2 and 4.9, depending on the mass of Dimorphos. If Dimorphos and Didymos are assumed to have equal densities of 2,400 kg m–3, 〖β=3.61〗_(-0.25)^(+0.19) (1σ). These β values indicate that significantly more momentum was transferred to Dimorphos from the escaping impact ejecta than was incident with DART. Therefore, the DART kinetic impact was highly effective in deflecting the asteroid Dimorphos.

show abstract

Statistical Significance of Mission Parameters on the Deflection Efficiency of Kinetic Impacts: Applications for the Next-generation Kinetic Impactor

Cited by 8 publications

References 46 publications

Effects of Impact and Target Parameters on the Results of a Kinetic Impactor: Predictions for the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Mission

Effects of Impact and Target Parameters on the Results of a Kinetic Impactor: Predictions for the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Mission

Momentum transfer from the DART mission kinetic impact on asteroid Dimorphos

Momentum Transfer from the DART Mission Kinetic Impact on Asteroid Dimorphos

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