The photo shows the "energy flash" when a projectile launched at speeds up to 17,000 mph impacts a solid surface at the Hypervelocity Ballistic Range at NASA's Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California. This test is used to simulate what happens when a piece of orbital debris hits a spacecraft in orbit. Image # : A-6058

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Size: 2073px × 1609px
Photo credit: © NC Collections / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: ablation, ballistic, gun, hypervelocity, micrometeors, naval, plant, range