Utilizing Impact Experiments and 3D Scanning to Investigate Crater
Scaling on M-Type Asteroids
Abstract
The upcoming Psyche mission, part of the NASA Discovery program, will
investigate the largest known M-type asteroid, 16 Psyche. Previous
research has suggested that 16 Psyche may be an exposed planetary
metallic core. With cratering being a fundamental process in modifying
the surfaces of all solid planets and satellites, one of the main
objectives of the mission is to characterize 16 Psyche’s impact crater
morphology. Consequently, in order to understand the cratering histories
on M-type asteroids, it is essential to investigate how impact variables
affect crater formation and crater scaling. We conducted experiments at
the NASA Ames Vertical Gun Range that formed hypervelocity impact
craters in copper and aluminum blocks with different impact angles,
impact speeds, projectile sizes, and projectile materials. In the
experiments, impact angles ranged from 15° to 90°, impact speeds ranged
from 1.91 km s-1 to 5.69 km s-1, projectiles were either 6.35 mm or 12.7
mm in diameter, and the projectile materials were aluminum, Pyrex,
quartz, basalt, and serpentine. Afterwards, 3D scanning was applied to
investigate the morphometry of the resultant experimental craters. We
analyzed the scans to measure diameter, cratering efficiency, length,
width, and depth variations within the craters. Additionally, the crater
scans will be analyzed for their morphology, including their planform,
slopes, and other asymmetries. From there, we will use pi scaling to
develop crater scaling relationships that enable the results of this
analysis to be used to interpret crater size and morphology on metallic
asteroids. These results can help in interpreting craters on 16 Psyche
and on other M-type asteroids. In turn, these observations will also
help generate a richer understanding of the formation and evolution of
our solar system.